Good MPs Don't Work In the Dark

On 7th November, 2017, Ms Laadi Ayii Ayamba (MP, Pusiga) rose to contribute to a statement by a colleague on Odekro’s assessment of MPs on the floor of Parliament. She bemoaned the negative perception of Parliament by Ghanaians and in an attempt to justify her defensive posture, said this:

“ We do a lot of work when we go back to our Committees; yet, these are done behind closed doors. The public does not see what individuals or others who they might not see seated here say or contribute in those Committees.”

The Honorable MP for Pusiga was complaining about one of the effects of a twisted procedure canonized in the Standing Orders. Standing Order 213 endorses a ‘dumsor’ approach to law-making. Per that Order, with the exception of the Public Accounts Committee, all committee meetings are closed to Ghanaians by default unless the Chairperson of a Committee feels it should be opened to the public. In the Sixth Parliament, out of 1500 committees held by 21 Committees of Parliament, only 55 meetings (3.7%) involved consultations with civil society organizations and other relevant stakeholders. In other words, over 96% committee meetings were held in the dark.

We can learn from South Africa where their Constitution (Section 57 and 59) makes specific provisions for public participation or involvement in legislation with a requirement for committee meetings to be held in public by default.

Order 213 flies in the face of our much-touted democracy. It is time we turn on the light and do away with this Order.

#Ghana #Governance