Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, the Member of Parliament (MP) for South Dayi, has underscored the significance of committees in augmenting Parliament’s oversight capabilities.
On Tuesday, Parliament unveiled several pivotal committees, with Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, North Tongu MP, taking the helm of the Assurance Committee.
The Assurance Committee is entrusted with ensuring that commitments made by the government to Parliament and the public are honoured. This committee is instrumental in holding the executive accountable and promoting transparency in governance.
Alongside the Assurance Committee, Parliament also established the Ethics and Standards Committee and the Ways and Means Committees, with Patricia Appiagyei, Asokwa MP, presiding over them.
In a conversation with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Eyewitness News on Citi FM on Tuesday, Mr Dafeamekpor articulated that the establishment of committees goes beyond procedural necessity and is a strategic initiative to bolster parliamentary oversight effectiveness.
He contended that these committees, each concentrating on a distinct governance area, can probe deeper into matters, thereby facilitating a more comprehensive examination of governmental actions.
“Rationale is that we want parliament to have the power to exercise more oversight. The complaint or the criticism against the old standing orders is that a lot of the committees that are supposed to check government and government agencies are headed by members who belong to the party-forming government. So more often than not parliament is not able to assert itself in terms of exercising oversight.
“So, parliament is departing from that formula to now ensuring that a lot of the committees that are supposed to have oversight of the agencies and the ministries are chaired by the members of the party not forming government. So they will have the stronger hand to demand accountability,” he stated.
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