The Parliament of Ghana has inaugurated and sworn in a new six-member Parliamentary Service Board (PSB) for the Ninth Parliament.
The event took place at the Speaker’s Conference Room at Parliament in Accra last Monday, as a crucial component of Parliament’s operations as established by the Parliamentary Service Act (Act 460) pursuant to Article 124 of the 1992 Constitution.
Members of the new PSB include the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, who is the Chairperson; the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga; the Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin; the Clerk to Parliament, Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror; a former Member of Parliament (MP) of New Juaben South, Dr Mark Assibey Yeboah, and a former MP of Afadjato South, Angela Oforiwaa Alorwu-Tay.
The Board, also have the First Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor; and the Second Deputy Speaker, Andrew Asiamah Amoako, as Co-opted Members. The PSB has Nana Tawiah Okyir as its Secretary, who will be assisted by Mrs Linda Gyekye Boadu.
The PSB will be responsible for overseeing the administration of the legislative body to ensure the smooth functioning of its operations.
It is also expected to provide strategic direction for the effective and efficient functioning of Parliament and to ensure the welfare of the parliamentary staff and Members of Parliament (MPs).
Achievement
In his remarks, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, touted the achievement of the PSB of the Eighth Parliament; stating: “It made significant strides in enhancing the operational capabilities of the service and enhanced, to some extent, the welfare of staff and Members of Parliament”.
He indicated that the Board played a major role in the innovation and expansion of various infrastructural projects, which had improved the office facilities and provided a conducive environment for the work of Parliament.
The Speaker added that the previous Board, among other critical policies, approved a new organisational structure and grading of positions of the Parliamentary Service, which improved the career progression of the staff of the service.
Despite the success chalked up by the previous PSB, the Speaker asserted that there were challenges still persisting that needed to be addressed, including security concerns for which he challenged the Ninth Board to resolve.
“One of these challenges is to secure the Parliamentary enclave to ensure its safety.
The security of MPs and staff has been a very worrying matter for Parliament for some time now.
“We are actually very insecure here; we are not safe. Sometimes, people can jump in and attack members and staff, and any time there is an attempt to apprehend them, they escape over the wall,” he said.
The Speaker also urged the Board to put in place stringent mechanisms to achieve effective delivery of support services to members and committees of Parliament by the Clerk to Parliament, Monuments and staff of the Parliamentary Service.
Minority Leader’s proposal
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Minority Leader, Mr Afenyo-Markin, affirmed that the MPs and Parliamentary Service needed enhanced security in support of the earlier charge of the Speaker to the PSB.
He proposed as part of efforts to enhance the security of members to reconsider a discussion on building a new parliamentary chamber, which would be befitting of the status of Parliament with an elevated security.
The MP of Effutu Constituency also called on the Ninth PSB to discuss issues about building a hospital for MPs and Parliamentary Service staff, because confidentiality was becoming an issue, compelling some MPs to seek health care in other countries.
Majority Leader’s counterproposal
The Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business also supported the proposal of the Speaker and the Minority to enhance the security of the parliamentary enclave to ensure the security of MPs and staff.
He, however, completely rejected the call by the Minority Leader for the construction of a new chamber and a hospital for the political class.
“Mr Speaker, I definitely don’t believe that a hospital is a priority of this Parliament or should be the priority of this Parliament.
Mr Speaker, we are very close to the Ridge Hospital, which I personally believe is adequate to provide the services that staff here will need.
“I don’t believe that at this stage in the finances of this country, we should have a political class building a hospital, especially for itself and not wanting to mingle with ordinary Ghanaians and the facilities that they use.
“So, I totally reject a proposal to construct a hospital for Parliament and a new parliamentary chamber.
We have a clinic, which is in keeping with what most establishments have,” Mr Ayariga said.
The MP for Bawku Central assured the Speaker that the PSB would work assiduously to meet the aspirations of Parliament, and serve Ghanaians.