The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has debunked perception among legislators that his ministry was re-created by the President to emasculate the work of Parliament.
Instead, he said his ministry was created to rather serve as an interface between the executive and legislature.
Speaking at a meeting with the leadership of Parliament to introduce his ministry and the purpose for its creation, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu explained that although matters of policy between the Majority and Minority may differ, it is his hope that the ministry will seize the opportunity to build consensus for the good of Ghana in order to enhance democratic governance.
According to him, his ministry will serve as a platform for the sharing of ideas between the Majority and Minority.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who is also the Majority Leader, indicated that citizens must be accommodating of their differences and the ministry is ready to position itself in taking up that responsibility, of being the bridge builder.
He pointed out that his ministry will resolve the acrimony between lawmakers and Metropolitan Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and that his ministry is ready to position itself in collaboration with the ministry responsible for local government.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said addressing the challenges will bring harmonious working relationship between Members of Parliament (MP’s) and the MMDCEs, which will result in serenity in the governance process as a nation.
The Majority Leader sighted instances where citizens had presented their complaints to Parliament for redress yet, leadership faced challenges in addressing their concerns.
“The re-creation of the Ministry [of Parliamentary Affairs] will become the vehicle to address those complaints from the citizenry.
“Ghana will learn from the Indian experience where the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs is the lead agency in the capacity building of Members of Parliament,” he stressed.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noted that it is his desire to leave a legacy of consensus building in Ghana’s democratic governance, and assured leaders that he and staff of the ministry will ensure that.
In his response, the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, said it is their responsibility as leadership of Parliament to reduce the excessive partisanship in the house and even though they have policy differences, the country must come first.
He indicated that he and his team would support Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu to use his ministry to achieve that for the benefit of the country.