Beginning today, Tuesday, February 6, a notable change will take effect in parliamentary proceedings as members will kick off sessions by reciting the National Pledge.
This marks the implementation of the new standing orders, bringing forth a significant alteration in the parliamentary protocol.
Under the revised standing orders, heads of state institutions will now be required to personally appear before Parliament to address inquiries related to their agencies.
This departure from the previous standing orders, which allowed Ministers of State to represent the heads of institutions during questioning, represents a fundamental shift in the parliamentary approach.
As part of the procedural changes, Members of Parliament will undergo a roll call and actively participate in reciting the national pledge at the commencement of proceedings.
Ahmed Ibrahim, the First Deputy Minority Whip in Parliament, provided insights into these modifications, underscoring that independent bodies such as the Electoral Commission, CHRAJ boss, BoG governor, NCCE, and the Auditor General will now undergo questioning akin to ministers on the parliamentary floor.
He stated, “Independent bodies like the Electoral Commission, the CHRAJ boss, the BoG governor, NCCE, and the Auditor General are going to be questioned just as we question ministers on the Floor and the mode of answering questions on the Floor has also been provided in the new Standing Orders.
“Previously, if you wanted to invite the EC, they would say he had no audience on the Floor and if the Common Fund administrator needed to come unless the discussion was led by the Minister but this time around, it is not going to be the same.
“The administrator can come and be interrogated by a committee and can be asked questions and he will respond to the questions and the mode of answering the questions has been catered for in the new Standing Orders.”
Ibrahim emphasized that the new standing orders facilitate a more direct engagement with officials from independent bodies, allowing them to be questioned by parliamentary committees, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability in the parliamentary process.