THE NEWLY elected Member for Nkoranza North, Major (Rtd) Derrick Oduro, yesterday took his Parliamentary Oath of office. It was administered by the Speaker, Hon. Ebenezer Sekyi Hughes.

In welcome remarks, the Minority Leader, Hon. Alban Bagbin, reiterated the need for appropriate conditions of service for Members of Parliament.

This, he said, is to prevent constant occurrences of Members struggling to survive and getting into problems. "This compels us to go for bye-elections".

He said as a country, we needed to have a look at the electoral processes that we encounter in trying to elect representatives.

He noted that the issue of incumbency should be looked at because the unbridled use of incumbency and the involvement of state institutions especially the security agencies like the Police in the performance of their duties during by-elections is something to be worried about.

According to the Minority Leader, the issue of freedom during such elections must be looked at because some executives of his party who were supposed to be observers at the recent bye-election at Nkoranza were detained and could not discharge their duties, emphasizing that, "To develop our democratic culture and practices, we need to look at this issue".

Mr. Bagbin mentioned that election of Members to the House is an opportunity for them to serve their people and not to make money because "it's a selfless duty and without a reward from the State or the people".

He said a lot of people get the wrong impression about Members of Parliament when they are outside the House and it is only when they come inside that they know that the duty is honorous and Members are aggrieved. "Members in the House are 'committing suicide' and that's why we have these bye- elections coming up".

On his part, the Majority Leader, Hon. Felix O Agyapong, said although the popular saying goes that there is a reward in heaven, they need to get allowances to survive in the discharge of their duties.

He added that the leadership owes the Member the duty of educating him on the procedures of the House as well as the rules.

He said the confidence which the people of Nkoranza reposed in him by electing him to Parliament means that he needs to work hard so that come 2008, he would get them to renew that mandate for him.