Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah, a former vice-chancellor of the University of Ghana, has said the lack of mutual respect that permeates through Parliament can be blamed for the non-existence of consensus in the House.
According to him, the pride from both sides in Parliament where the Majority believes they are in power and can do whatever they want and the Minority also with the mentality that they can frustrate the business of the government is the ego that must be tackled.
Speaking to Beatrice Adu on the Big Bulletin on Monday (January 17), Prof Addae-Mensah said “It’s difficult to put one’s finger on the real problem but sometimes one is tempted to think that there is a problem of lack of mutual respect that is permeating through the Parliament.
“…I think one side feels that their role is not properly recognised. The other still feels that the winner takes all; we’re the big people, we’re in power so, you can say what you like, we’ll do what we like. I think that is what they have to address and do something about as quickly as possible.
…Parliament fighting is not the best. But it is not the first time it has happened. If there’s mutual respect for each other, I think people will be more prepared to be tolerant,” he stated.
The second session of the 8th Parliament is expected to commence from Tuesday, 25 January 2022, after members of the House were formerly scheduled to resume on 18 January with the E-Levy said to be the major agenda on the table.
Debate on the Bill was halted on 20 December 2021 after proceedings in the House turned chaotic with the MPs engaging in a fight during a headcount on whether or not to accept the bill under a Certificate of Urgency.
Nicholas Brown
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