General News of Thursday, 8 January 2009

Source: GNA

Parliament plunges into business

Accra, Jan. 8, GNA - Parliament adjourned early on Thursday, the first working day for members, to enable its leaders to meet to discuss pertinent issues concerning the House. When members reconvened after the previous day's heavy schedule, Mr Alban Bagbin, Majority Leader, moved a motion for an adjournment to enable the leaders meet to form the Committee of Selection.

The Committee of Selection would come up with a formula for the composition of membership for Parliamentary Committees such as the Standing and Select Committees. Other committees to be considered are those for delegations and group to international bodies such ECOWAS and the Pan-African Parliament.

Committees such as the Appointments, Privileges, Standing Orders, Public Accounts and the Business Committees fall under the Standing Committees of Parliament. The Select Committees are made up of committees with oversight functions over government ministries, department and agencies such as those on Communications, Education, Environment, Science and Technology.

The Appointment Committee is one of the Parliamentary committees that would soon plunge into serious business when it starts sitting to vet and check the background of new ministers of state to be appointed by President John Evans Atta Mills.