Speaker of Parliament Edward Doe Adjaho has expressed pride in the “significantly improved infrastructure and logistics” pooled together at the disposal of Parliament during his tenure.
He says these will be a legacy left for the next Speaker of Parliament.
In his closing remarks in the dissolution of the Sixth Parliament on Friday, January 6, Mr Doe Adjaho, who until his elevation to Speaker was Member of Parliament for Akatsi South Constituency, expressed gratitude to the Sixth Parliamentary Service Board as well as the leadership for what was achieved during his tenure.
Seventy-five bills and 66 instruments were passed by the Sixth Parliament, which was sworn in on January 7, 2013.
“With your support, we were able to – at the end of our term – bequeath to the next Speaker of Parliament significantly improved infrastructure and logistics to support their work,” he said.
“This includes the refurbished ‘Job 600’ office complex, the refurbished chamber of Parliament equipped with modern ICT equipment and the newly established police and fire stations within the precincts of Parliament.”
He thanked the 275 members for their support and made especial mention of the youth of Ghana for their “commitment and sacrifice to the work of the Sixth Parliament which you exhibited by sitting sometimes very late in the night”.
Before the Speaker’s remarks, the leaders of the Minority and Majority also made their closing remarks.
Leader of the Majority, Alban Sumana Bagbin, who will be a Member of the Seventh Parliament, a record for any Ghanaian legislator in the Fourth Republic, also lauded efforts by members especially in passing 24 bills alone in 2016.
Osei-Kyei Mensa-Bonsu, who led the Minority in the Sixth Parliament and lined up to be Majority Leader in the next Parliament, lamented the attrition rate in the current parliament.
He said Parliament is left handicapped for it.
“This outrageously high attrition rate cannot facilitate the growth of Parliament.”
The Suame Constituency Member also paid tribute to staff members who passed on in the line of their duty.
By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|3news.com|Ghana