Dress Properly – Speaker Warns MPs

By Maxwell Ofori, Parliament House ([email protected]) The physical appearances of Members of Parliament (MPs) into the Chamber, since the beginning of the 7th Parliament a few days ago, has come up as an issue of grave concern to the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Michael Oquaye.He has, therefore, stated that upon their immediate resumption from break, […]

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By Maxwell Ofori, Parliament House

([email protected])

The physical appearances of Members of Parliament (MPs) into the Chamber, since the beginning of the 7th Parliament a few days ago, has come up as an issue of grave concern to the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Michael Oquaye.He has, therefore, stated that upon their immediate resumption from break, which began last Wednesday,  the outfits of all parliamentarians would be checked.

 Commenting on the issue further, Professor Oquaye indicated that MPs could only appear formal into the Chamber, which attire he prescribed as either a formal African dress or any other formal outfit.

Besides, within the two days’ sitting, some other interesting happenings, peculiar to the newly-sworn in MPs, raised eyebrows in Parliament.

 For instance, in their effort to catch the Speaker’s eye, some of them raised their hands, a gesture which ran contrary to the normal practice, where Members stood on their feet to prompt the Speaker.

Again, some would be on their feet even after the Speaker had granted one of them the audience.  Per normal practice, apart from the Member making the submission, the rest would have to sit down.

It took the intervention of the Deputy Majority Leader, Sarah Adwoa Safo, to school the ‘level 100’ MPs on what to do on the floor when a colleague was making a submission.

 However, most of them (new MPs) carpe diem of correcting their names, which were either spelt wrongly or misarranged, to make their voices heard on the floor, hoping that that would not be the last for most of them.

 Meanwhile, the House, within the week, before it adjourned sine die, adopted a report of the Committee of Selection, on the Composition of the Business Committee and Appointments Committee.

 In accordance with Article 103 of the 1992 Constitution and Order 151 (1) of the Standing Orders of the House, the Committee of Selection was appointed on Tuesday, 10th January, 2017 to compose the Standing, Select and Other Committees of the House.

In addition, an induction seminar would be organized for the Members. It is expected to take place at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) from Friday, 27th to Monday, 31st January, 2017.

 According to the business statement read by the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu for second week ending Friday, 27th January, 2017, the seminar was residential for all new MPs and those who had not benefitted from any induction programme.

Seemingly, members suggested to the leadership of the House, in relation to the venue for the seminar, to consider a very serene environment apart from GIMPA.

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