Ghana?s president, John Kufuor has made a passionate appeal to the country?s political parties to join hands with his government in the interest of the development of nation.

The president said the 1992 Constitution made provisions for the principles of checks and balances as the best method of promoting accountability in governance to sustain multi-party democracy.

Speaking during his maiden meeting with the leadership of the country?s 200-member parliament at the Castle, president Kufuor said the political system of checks and balances was not conceived to create the situation where people of different political parties will perceive each other as enemies.

The majority delegation was led by the leader of the House, Papa Owusu-Ankomah and includes, deputy majority leader, Abraham Aidoo, chief whip, Kyei Mensah Bonsu and Eugenia Kusi, MP for Tarkwa-Nsuem.

The minority side was led by its leader, Alban Bagbin, and include chief whip, Doe Adjaho and Mrs. Comfort Owusu MP for Mfantsiman East. The two deputy speakers, Freddie Blay and Ken Dzirasah, also attended the meeting.

Kufuor said he decided to convene the meeting to capture the spirit of goodwill associated with Christmas, which is less than a week away. He said ?it is important that as leaders of the country, we share this goodwill in order to defuse the tension that might have been created in the course of the year.? The president said the impression should not be created that ?we are out to destroy each other.?

He explained that one of the fundamental underpinnings of democracy is for people of different opinions to agree to disagree on issues. Kufuor said the nation is in the mood for the Christmas season and it was time to share this kind of seasonal relationship in unity.

Majority leader, Papa Owusu-Ankomah described the meeting as unique in the political history of the country. He said such meetings should be the normal practice so that the country will know that although people belong to different parties, they can work together.

Mr. Bagbin said both the majority and the minority sides in Parliament had been looking forward to the opportunity to meet with the president but other engagements had not made it possible and expressed the hope that honouring the invitation will not create suspicion in the minds of the public.

He said although the majority and minority belong to different political parties, they are all Ghanaians in the same boat. Bagbin also MP for Nadowli South said both sides agree on more than 85 per cent of the issues in the House but added that unfortunately, the remaining 15 per cent of their disagreements on issues are highlighted by the media.

Mr. Bagbin stated that the leadership of the House is making every effort to improve on the Constitutional democracy, which was initiated in 1992.

He expressed his gratitude to the president for his invitation and said it was a step in the right direction. Mr. Bagbin said they honoured the invitation not only to show respect to the president but also to encourage him to deepen the relationship, which has been established. He said in spite of all the differences in opinion, ?all that the people are saying is that the country is moving in the right direction.?