An orientation programme has been designed for the 275 members of Ghana’s Parliament to familiarise and become conversant with the newly installed electronic devices in the main chamber of the House.

The chamber was refurbished to aid parliamentary work.

The dispatch boxes for ministers appearing before the legislature have been well carved out while computer consoles have been fixed for each of the 275 legislators.

“The computer consoles on your tables have been installed with legislative software,” Speaker Edward Doe Adjaho told members on Tuesday, when they resumed for the final meeting of the year.

He announced that the orientation programme will begin immediately after Tuesday’s sitting.

“An orientation programme will be conducted to introduce and train members on the use of these new electronic gadgets starting [on Tuesday].”

Meanwhile, some members have expressed excitement about the new devices.

“I am more enthused about the electronic voting,” stated Ofosu Asamoah, Kade Constituency MP, “because of the whip system. Sometimes, we are whipped to voting in directions against our conscience.”

“Our names are built into the equipment and you are able to access internet facilities right there,” said Sulemana Alijata, MP for Sissala East Constituency.

“We can now communicate with our colleagues outside Ghana.”

‘More inviting, more appealing’

For Mampong MP, Francis Addai-Nimoh, maintenance must be a priority for all.

“The chamber is more inviting and more appealing. Beyond that is the utilisation and the maintenance of the facility which I believe parliament as an institution will make provisions annually to take care of.”