Mr. Kenneth Tachie, Clerk of Parliament has said in London that there was considerable goodwill and admiration for Ghana’s Parliament in the comity of nations.

He said, the country continued to receive commendation for the way the affairs of parliament had been tackled by the nation’s representatives at fora held on parliamentary matters at which Ghana was represented.

Speaking during a courtesy call on His Excellency Mr. Isaac Osei, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK during a brief stop-over in London after attending the Commonwealth Speaker’s conference in Canada, Mr. Tachie said the endorsement should galvanise members and encourage them to work harder towards the enactment of laws which should stand the test of times.

Present at the courtesy call were Mr. Kwabena Baah-Duodu, Ghana’s Deputy High Commissioner to the UK, Mr. Fritz Andoh, Minister-Counsellor in charge of Information at Ghana’s Mission in the UK and Mr. Jones Kugblenu, Director of Public Affairs of Parliament.

He said that the performance of Parliament during the past year was impressive and added that he was optimistic that members of Parliament would continue to be focused and proactive in the discharge of their duties.

To enhance the performance of the legislature, Mr. Tachie announced, among other things, that Research, Public Affairs and Development departments had been established.

He said in keeping with this new image, the Parliamentary Service would soon launch an FM radio station to carry live debates and discussions from Parliament and expressed the hope that the facility would enlist the understanding and participation of the public in its deliberations.

In his contribution, Mr. Osei stated that the establishment of an FM radio station would help bring the people closer to parliament and provide the opportunity to monitor the activities of their representatives.

He said that there was the need for sustained education to check the growing misconception about the role of parliament in the constitutional process and added that it was the duty of Parliament to enact laws and not to execute development projects.

He praised members of parliament for their commitment and dedication and re-affirmed the support of the government and the people of Ghana for the parliamentary system.

On the 2004 Elections, Mr. Osei urged members of parliament to lead the way in reducing the level of acrimony and foul rhetoric in the impending electioneering campaign to ensure peaceful elections.