Accra, May 31,GNA- Mr Ebenezar Sekyi-Hughes, Speaker of Parliament, on Tuesday appealed to Ghanaians to guard and protect Parliament, where their representation is legitimately assured. He said parliament had had its "growth stunted" over the years due to military adventurism and in the process robbed the ordinary Ghanaian his potential in the parliamentary culture.

Mr Sekyi-Hughes was giving the keynote address at a book launch at the Accra International Conference Centre.

The book, called "A guide to the Parliament of Ghana" attempts to offer an insight into Parliamentary practice in Ghana.

Its 123 pages contain some of the roles of the Speaker, his deputies and members of Parliament as well as the functions of the various departments in the Legislative House.

The Speaker of Parliament said the legislative body could make the public appreciate its work better through transparency and timely flow of relevant information.

"Rallying to meet this responsibility calls for the creation of greater awareness among Ghanaians of the remit of our Parliament, functions of our Parliamentarians as well as the strength and weakness of our legislature."

He said democracy has little hope of survival in a society with a high level of illiteracy.

"This is one challenge that we, as Ghanaian, have to grapple with in our commitment to develop on principles of democratic governance."