Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, founding member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has criticised Members of Parliament (MPs) for the poor attendance to debate the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy.
He bemoaned the crisis facing the country, where leadership of the country was at a loss on what to do and legislators had also not come to the rescue by failing to do their work as overseers of the Executive.
The House recorded an extremely low turnout of MPs in the Chamber, with only 37 out of the 137 Majority MPs turning up on November 30.
Commenting on the issue, Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe indicated that the poor attendance by elected representatives to debate the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy carried on with related statutory functions were an issue for sad commentary.
“It is so nauseating and irresponsible MPs who also double as ministers of state chose to travel to Qatar to watch football matches and without sense of shame sent images of their presence at matches as supporters.
“It is worthy of special note the President of Ecuador politely declined FIFA invitation to attend the opening ceremony of the ongoing world cup, which featured the match between Qatar and Ecuador; his reason for declining the invitation was simple and responsible, due to pressing national issues in Ecuador.
“Governance architecture of democracies throughout history has recognised separation of powers for sole objective of checks on each arm of government and it is for this reason framers of the 4th Republican Constitution created the Executive, Parliament and the Judiciary,” Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe decried.
According to him, among the three arms, no one could doubt pivotal role of Parliament as most important body in constitutional democracy where the rule of law was most important ingredient in the progress, growth and development of governance system given to the citizenry after decades of political instability with attendant deterioration in all facets of society.
Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe underscored unique role of Parliament by many provisions in the 1992 Constitution which alone had sole authority, among other powers to enact laws,
approve all appointments of ministers and judges, approve government’s budget and
approve loans, bonds, taxes and exemptions.
He lamented over recent happenings and sober reflection of performance of Parliamentarians were issues of concern since unbridled partisanship coupled with lack of collective responsibility were undermining and ruining role of the august body in governance system and in the midst of crisis, where leadership of the country was at a loss on what to do, MPs had also failed to come to the rescue by not doingtheir work as overseers of the Executive.
