Safeguarding the image of the Legislature
Judging from the universal perspective on the conduct of the Legislature, Ghana deserves commendation for her role so far. It is evident that Ghana’s Legislature has done better when compared to the international legislatures.
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Leadership from all human endeavours serves as a conduit of morality to followers. It is an extra responsibility any leader must not shirk, but imbibe superlative moral standards to court the need for followers to living an exemplary lifestyle.
It is established that humanity is not a paragon of virtue. Thus, though there are bound to be lapses in every human institution, yet, must the human take pride in sacrificing such lapses on the altar of fallibility?
Ghana’s Parliament has fared well though it has recorded some vicious punches amongst “Honourable” members.
The British House of Commons has registered incidents of bloody brawl. There have been assaults among the legislative powers of the British Parliament where members have punched or pulled one another over their seats, others stood on desks and tore dresses. Ghana’s Parliament is yet to experience what her colonial masters have disdainfully exhibited.
Have there been scenes of bloody brawl in Ghana’s Parliament? Gas was splashed into the chamber of the British House of Commons which led to whisking Members of Parliament (MP) and staff to hospital.
There had been legislative violence in South Korea, Turkey and other countries.
In the (USA) United State 7 America, politics is all about pointed words rather than pointed jabs, thunderous speeches rather than thunderous shots to the chin and vigorous debates rather than vigorous fisticuffs.
Parliament an example
In the early days of US government, name calling in the congressional chambers was commonplace much as it is today. In those early days when tempers flared, it often led to fisticuffs and violence. A Federalist Representative, Roger Griswold of Connecticut strode across the chambers to where his colleague Matthew Lyon was sitting and pounded on his head with a stick.
Incidence of legislative violence is enormous on the international scene with its varying enormity of violence.
The irony is that though the seeming developed international legislature have featured such violence, yet, have played significant roles in socioeconomic endeavours in Ghana’s developing Legislature.
The Sub-Saharan African region cannot be exonerated from legislative violence. MP have engaged in fist-fights during sitting where vicious upper-cut punches caught a Member of Parliament on the chin and eventually spat out teeth like melon seeds.
In such vein, the extremism of Ghana’s legislative violence is merely restricted to a dazzling display of verbal fireworks but not fist-fights leading to battered faces and torn dresses in the floor of the house as has occurred in other countries’ Parliament. Ghana deserves commendation.
Notwithstanding the circumstance, must the Ghanaian citizenry, including the Legislature take pride only in the fact that there has not been blood-stain in their legislative abode? When issues of bribery hits the supposed house of the “Honourables” whether it is an allegation or a reality, how do the governed perceive the legislative body that is seen as a role model in the Ghanaian society?
Isn’t there an iota of truth that the recent bribery scandal at Parliament may court a tint of realism in dishonouring the honour of the “Honourables”?
What level of reputation is left when even a rumour of petty thievery stains the Legislature? Ghana’s Parliament has a legacy to bequeath to potential future occupants of the Legislature.
The citizenry is watching every move of the Legislature. The substance of good image of Ghana’s Parliament is not proving whether an allegation is credible, but ensuring that there is even no cause to warrant a probe or an investigation into an allegation.
When it so happens, the justice system in democratic governance is paramount. The manner in which the Legislature conducts itself in legal issues displays how serious it upholds in high esteem, justice delivery and rule of law.
Parliament not above the law
If a citizen and a Legislature break the same law, is the same penalty stipulated in the statutory book meted out to both? To ensure equilibrium of justice delivery, the lawmakers and interpreters must be fair to all and sundry.
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The Legislature must not conduct itself in a manner that seems to portray it to be above the law. Such posture commutes mixed sentiments in the citizenry which eventually courts public clamour and acrimony and tends to erode public respect that is supposed to be accorded to the Legislature. What is good for the goose is equally good for the gander.
Ghana’s Legislature, as a branch of the three arms of government, has a reputation to protect for posterity. It must not relent in safeguarding its image to maintain public trust.
Long live Ghana, long live her Legislature!