The Member of Parliament for Hohoe, Dr. Bernice Adiku Heloo, has appealed to the Council of State to collaborate more effectively with the legislature on matters of national concern in order to enhance the work of government.
She stated that Articles 90 and 91 of the 1992 Constitution has made several provisions for the Council of State to make inputs into the drafting of bills and initiate or make recommendations for Parliament’s consideration.
In addition, she explained that Parliament’s standing order 53 allows the Council of State to provide messages to the legislature.
“The thing is that for a very long time, we have never had such messages coming from this noble institution so it is important that they take up the challenge and comment on important issues that come before Parliament.
So we can also have access to their rich knowledge and experience, so that in the affairs of Parliament we can also say they have contributed to some of our debates and bills that we enact into Acts” she told B&FT in an interview.
These provisions according to her has not been taken advantage of by the Council of State over the years.
Members of the Council of State are made up of eminent men and women and she expects that bills that are passed in Parliament can be scrutinized by them.
Dr. Heloo also maintained that, showing continuous interest in Parliamentary issues is the way to go to enhance the democratic credentials of the country.
The 1992 Constitution stipulates that there shall be a Council of State to counsel the President in the performance of his functions.
Among their functions includes : they shall consider and advise the President or any other authority in respect of any appointment which is required by this Constitution or any other law to be made in accordance with the advice of, or in consultation with, the Council of State.
