Parliamentary Majority Chief Mahama Ayariga has urged Ghanaians, particularly the youth, to defend and assist Parliament and different democratic establishments, stressing that below the nation’s constitutional provisions, solely Parliament can have completely different political events.
Consequently, he appealed to the general public to understand the position of the legislature in sustaining democratic governance.
“You can not have completely different political events within the govt. The chief is both absolutely Nationwide Democratic Congress (NDC) or absolutely New Patriotic Celebration (NPP). However in Parliament, you possibly can have all of the completely different political events which have gained seats,” the bulk chief defined.
Placing the load of the parliamentary majority behind his new academic sequence “Parliament and You”, Mr. Ayariga urged younger folks to all the time select democracy over any type of governance, stressing that “parliament is the place the place you possibly can see democracy in motion”, framing democracy as essentially about having completely different shades of opinion expressed, heard and included into the nation’s choices.
occasion
‘Parliament and You’ is a partnership initiative between Parliament and Junior Graphics, which goals to publish Junior Graphic articles and tales for youngsters every week, reaching roughly 50,000 youngsters aged 10 to 17.
We simplify parliamentary ideas, features, and procedures by way of partaking, age-appropriate content material, together with options, tales, quizzes, puzzles, illustrations, and contests.
The launch at Parliament Home attracted leaders of the Home of Commons, parliamentary employees, college youngsters and representatives from Graphic Communications Group Restricted (GCGL).
Notable among the many dignitaries was Bernard Ahiafo, First Deputy Speaker of the Nationwide Meeting. Minister of Communications, Digital Expertise and Innovation, Mr. Samuel Ngāti George; Parliamentary Secretary, Ebenezer Ahuma Jetrol; Mr. Ato Afful, Managing Director of GCGL. Theophilus Yerty, editor of graphics, and Eugenia Asare Tando, assistant editor of junior graphics.
context
Mr. Ayariga guided the schoolchildren by way of the completely different republics the nation had skilled, explaining what occurred when army regimes disrupted and took management of the republics.
Ayariga stated that throughout the army occupation, troopers abolished the parliament (legislative physique) and seized energy, offering a foundation for defending democracy.
“When a army authorities is established, army personnel take over the chief department. They normally depart the judiciary as judges, however they all the time shut down parliament.”
“And so they rule by decree, which implies they go legal guidelines themselves with out going by way of parliament. So we skilled that in 1966,” he stated, citing different army regimes the nation has skilled.
Mr Ayariga subsequently confused that constitutional democracy is the one system the place all shades of opinion are accepted in Parliament.
“Ghana has gone by way of completely different levels by way of what we name constitutional improvement. After we say constitutional improvement, we’re merely speaking about how we’re ruled,” he defined.
In assist of the “Congress and You” academic program, Mr. Ayariga stated: “It turned obligatory for the established parliament to attempt to rally the folks to assist the parliament and to make sure that the folks supported it within the occasion that somebody sooner or later tried to overthrow the federal government and shut down parliament.”
public understanding
Ayariga stated constructing public understanding of Congress is important if future generations are to stay dedicated to defending democratic establishments.
He added that democracy thrives when dissent is allowed to be freely expressed and included into the decision-making course of.
“The concept of democracy is to allow them to say no matter they need to say.
As soon as completed, we’ll put the problem to a vote,” he stated.
Moreover, the bulk chief stated that parliamentary deliberations usually result in enhancements in proposed measures as a result of members are prepared to include useful options, no matter the place they arrive from.
spend money on schooling
Mr. Ayariga additional inspired college students to make the most of the chance to go to Parliament, observe its proceedings, and achieve a greater understanding of how Parliament features.
He expressed assist for applications that promote younger folks’s civic participation, corresponding to essay contests and academic actions centered on parliament.
Mr. Ayariga added that comparable initiatives in different jurisdictions have been profitable in encouraging younger folks to determine mannequin parliaments of their faculties and communities as a sensible technique of studying about democratic governance.
“I’d additionally prefer to commend the partnership that the Clerk and his workforce are constructing with Parliament and Junior Graphics, which permits us to create an area there for younger folks to write down about Parliament, and within the course of additionally function Parliament in order that our colleagues and different younger folks can learn and perceive what occurs in Parliament,” he stated.
Donation
The Majority Chief introduced a contribution of GH¢200,000 from his workplace in the direction of initiatives supporting the partnership between Parliament and Junior Graphics.
Minority chief Alexander Afenyo-Malkin additionally donated GH¢100,000 to assist the initiative.
Minister of Communications, Digital Expertise and Innovation, Samuel Narty George, has donated 25 laptops to assist the tutorial sequence Parliament and You printed in Junior Graphics.
He stated the laptops could be awarded to winners of quarterly quizzes organized to check college students’ information on the weekly schooling sequence.
