“Disappointing” 8th Parliament has achieved little – Joe Wise
First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu, has openly expressed his deep disappointment in the performance and conduct of the Members of the 8th Parliament of Ghana.
In an interview with Citi News, Joe Wise, as he is popularly called, described the current parliamentary session as lacking focus, riddled with controversies, and failing to prioritise its core responsibility of lawmaking.
According to Joe Wise, the 8th Parliament has failed to meet the legislative standards set by previous sessions, ultimately falling short of expectations.
In his remarks, Joe Wise lamented the state of the 8th Parliament, pointing out that instead of concentrating on its primary duty of making laws, the House has frequently been sidetracked by unnecessary and unproductive disputes.
The Deputy Speaker specifically highlighted the insufficient number of laws passed during this parliamentary session as compared to previous ones.
He emphasised that the legislative output of the 8th Parliament has been conspicuously low, both in terms of major laws and smaller legislative instruments.
“Let me say that I am disappointed in the eighth Parliament, generally. I said the other time that we have done very little in legislation. You can just take the number of laws and smaller legislations we have done. We have wasted so much time on inconsequential things, inconsequential matters. Our main job is making laws.
“You go and take the number of laws we have made in the last four years and compare with the other Parliaments and you see that the eighth Parliament has been the least.
“It has been full of controversy. Matters that previously we used to sit down and discuss and overcome and do, now we take them into fisticuffs and that is most disappointing to me.”
