Parliament of Ghana
The Parliament of Ghana (English Parliament of Ghana ) is the legislative body of the Ghanaian presidential republic. In addition to the President of Ghana, which also simultaneously serves as head of government in addition to his function as head of state, the Parliament of Ghana is the second organ of the state, which receives its legitimacy through elections directly by the Ghanaian people.
A total of 230 parliamentarians from 230 constituencies were also directly elected by majority vote into office in 2008 In the last Parliament. The Parliament of Ghana has been available since January 7, 2009 Rt Hon Justice Joyce Bamford - Addo as Speaker of Parliament (English Speakers of Parliament ) before. She is the first woman to occupy that position.
Today's Parliament of Ghana is based on the now fourth Constitution of Ghana of 1992. These controls in Chapter 10, the essential basis of the parliament, in paragraphs 93-123 of the constitutional text. The minimum number of members of 140 parliamentarians is thereby already set to constitutional basis ( Chapter 10, paragraph 93 ). Chapter seven of the Constitution regulates the right to vote and the stock of political parties (Section 7, paragraph 42 to 56).
Mandate award
Selectable and thus owner of the passive suffrage every Ghanaian citizen who has reached the age of at least 21 years, has paid his taxes and is resident in the constituency in which he is applying for a direct mandate ( Chapter 10, paragraph 9 ). A candidate may be living in a different constituency, but then must have been resident in front of his candidacy for the office of member of Parliament in the constituency at least five of the past 10 years, for which he is applying ( Chapter 10, paragraph 94b ).
Ghana is in accordance with Chapter 7 of the Constitution of 1992 in the electoral districts always divided number to the number of seats in parliament must comply. In the elections of 1992, 1996 and 2000, Ghana was still divided into 200 constituencies, Parliament therefore had 200 seats. It was not until the 2004 election, some constituencies and the associated administrative reform, other districts were re-divided. Since there are 230 constituencies and Parliament has 230 seats. With the division of constituencies must be considered verfassungsmä7ig the layout of the regions of Ghana. No constituency may extend to more than one region ( Chapter 7, Section 47, paragraph 2). The constituencies are to be thus possible equal sized with an equal share of the population in each constituency ( Chapter 7, Section 47, paragraph 7). However, this may be dispensed due to the geographical characteristics of the constituency, the distribution of telecommunications equipment in the constituency or considering a traditional mating area ( Chapter 7, Section 47, paragraph 4). For Member of Parliament can not be elected, which is already active in a public position in the civil service or the position of a reigning traditional ruler (English Chief ) holds ( Chapter 10, paragraph 94g, paragraph 3b). This exclusion includes, in addition to a judgeship and the service in the Ghanaian police, the Statistical Office or the National Fire Department ( Chapter 10, paragraph 94g, paragraph 3b). The existence of the traditional rulers in Ghana is constitutionally guaranteed. Select the traditional rulers from their ranks Chief's who gather at the National Council of the Chief's ( National House of Chiefs ), and as an advisory body with constitutional status for the other organs of state are active and thus able to influence the legislation of Parliament with advice.
The right to vote is any person with Ghanaian nationality from the 18th year of life. The choice is secret in Ghana. A simple majority is sufficient for the election of members of parliament in their constituency in order to be elected. If only one candidate nominated, no election shall be held, the candidate will be appointed ( Chapter 7, Section 50, paragraph 3). The elected representatives of a constituency shall recover directly to Parliament.
A Member of Parliament loses his seat in Parliament gem. Paragraph 97, Section 1 of the Ghanaian constitution of 1992, when it
- Is elected as Speaker of Parliament,
- Is removed from office by the Parliament of his seat,
- At least fifteen parliamentary sessions unexcused absences and may subsequently not give sufficient notice to the Parliamentary Council for privilege, or
- Resigns from office by written declaration to the Speaker of Parliament,
- No longer stand as a Member of Parliament in an election could gem. Paragraph 94 of the Constitution
- Was elected as an independent candidate in Parliament and later enters a political party.
The parliamentarians are adequately gem. Paragraph 71 of Ghana's 1992 Constitution paid. You it is acc. Section 98 para 2 of the Ghanaian constitution of 1992 prohibits directly or indirectly, to exercise a gainful activity, as long as it was not approved by the Speaker of Parliament.
After elections were made every Member of Parliament has to give an oath of office before the Parliament. Against this oath a Member of Parliament shall develop any activity, except to participate in elections to the Speaker of the Parliament (Article 100 of the Constitution of Ghana, 1992).
Organization of Parliament
Speaker of Parliament
After the elections, the largest party in parliament has the right to the Speaker of Parliament (Speaker of Parliament ) to nominate. The majority party is this, taking into account the interests of other parties in parliament to propose a suitable candidate ( Chapter 10, paragraph 95 ). The position of Speaker of Parliament must not be awarded to a member of the newly elected parliament, but the parliament speaker must strictly observe the suitability for office of member of Parliament show.
As long as the position of Speaker of the Parliament is not busy or idle in the current term of office, can acc. Paragraph 95, paragraph 2 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana taken no decisions or elections are held, except for the election of a Speaker of the Parliament ( Chapter 10, Section 95, paragraph 3). A spokesman for the Parliament separates gem. Chapter 10, Section 95 paragraph 2 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana from office if he
- In writing to the Clerk declared his resignation,
- Shall be removed from office before a three - quarters majority of Parliament,
- Minister or Minister of State in the incumbent government is, or
- A circumstance which would exclude the speaker in an election to the Parliament of the election.
Before taking office, the elected by a simple majority of the Parliament Speaker of Parliament shall from his oath of office. Currently Rt Hon Joyce Bamford - Addo has held the office of parliament speaker.
The Speaker of Parliament has held the house rules and ensures the maintenance of order in Parliament and is chairman of the parliamentary administration. The Speaker of Parliament has to act impartially. The Speaker of Parliament should not interfere usually in debates, but to ensure the Smooth conduct of debates. The Speaker of Parliament is hereby expressly authorized, behind the scenes, to use its influence, in order to arrive at an agreement between the ruling party and the opposition. Furthermore, the resignation of a member of Parliament is against the Speaker in writing of his office and obtain permission to engage in any outside employment.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament
To fulfill its tasks the Speaker of the Parliament are asked two deputies. Both deputies are acc. Paragraph 96, paragraph 1 of the Ghanaian constitution of 1992 from different parties come and be members of Parliament. First Deputy Speaker of Parliament in Freddie Blay of the Convention People's Party (CPP ). Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament was Hon Malik A. Yakubu by the ruling party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP ), was elected.
Other
Other leading roles within the Parliament take the leader of the majority party ( Majority Leader ) and the chairman of the second largest fraction ( Minority Leader ) a. During the parliamentary debate, the group leaders are responsible for the maintenance of order within their groups. Prepare the daily business of Parliament and appear in public as a leading representative of the Parliament. Both positions within the groups are filled by simple majority vote of the members of the respective fractions. Currently, Felix Owusu- Adjapong has held the position of group leaders of the majority party of the New Patriotic Party and Alban Bagbin the Chairman of the Group 's second largest party, the party National Democratic Congress held.
Organization of Members
For each important field, there is a committee of the Ghanaian Parliament. The Committees are to a solid committees to call, the gem in the first parliamentary session. Section 103, paragraph 2 of the Ghanaian constitution of 1992 after the elections of the parliament speaker and his deputies are occupied. On the other hand, other committees shall be filled as required by Parliament. Every parliamentarian is to operate in accordance with paragraph 103 of the Ghanaian constitution of 1992 in at least one committee. The committees are to be allocated in 1992 under Section 103, Section 5 of the Ghanaian Constitution as possible in proportion to the parties.
The solid committees include:
- Finance Committee ( Finance Committee )
- Committee of Gender and Children ( Gender & Children Committee)
- Committee on Government assurances (Government Assurances Committee)
- Committee of the Parliament ( House Committee )
- Committee on personnel matters ( Appointments Committee )
- Economic Committee ( Business Committee )
- Committee for Public Accounting ( Public Accounts Committee )
- Selection Committee ( Selection Committee )
- Committee on subsidiary legislation ( Subsidiary Legislation Committee)
- ( Members Holding Offices of Profit Committee)
- Committee on privileges ( Privileges Committee)
- Rights Committee ( Judiciary Committee )
- Committee for Special Financing ( Special Budget Committee)
- Committee on the rules and procedures in Parliament ( Standing Orders Committee)
Other parliamentary committees include:
- Communications Committee ( Communications Committee)
- Committee of Land and Forests ( Lands and Forestry Committee)
- Committee on Agriculture, Food and Cocoa Affairs ( Agriculture, Food and Cocoa Affairs Committee )
- Committee on Local Government and Rural Development ( Local Government & Rural Development Committee )
- Committee on Labour and Construction ( Works and Housing Committee )
- Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs ( Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee )
- Health Committee ( Health Committee )
- Committee on Roads and Transport ( Roads and Transport Committee)
- Defence and Internal Affairs Committee ( Defence & Interior Committee)
- Youth and Sports Committee ( Youth & Sports Committee)
- Board of Education ( Education Committee )
- Committee on Mines and Energy ( Mines & Energy Committee)
- Environment, Science and Technology Committee (Environment, Science & Technology Committee )
- Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism ( Trade, Industry & Tourism Committee )
History of Parliament
Ghana reached on March 6, 1957, the independence of the former colonial power Britain over the crown colony of the Gold Coast. But already nearly 100 years before the independence of the Gold Coast a Legislative Council ( Legislative Council ) was added in 1850, who was the governor on issues of implementation of laws and regulations to the side. This Legislative Council had thereby contrary to its name has any influence in the legislation, which was solely in the hands of the colonial power, but merely advisory expertise to safeguard the peace and order in the colony.
In 1916 the Legislative Council was restructured. He now consisted of nine members, of whom at any rate should be six Africans, further eleven permanent members and the Governor himself under the Guggisberg Constitution were held the following year, 1925, the first elections to the Legislative Council. Even under this Constitution, the Governor had still held the sole power over the legislation of the Gold Coast.
In 1946 was put into force the Guggisberg Constitution by the Burns Constitution which gave a proportionate majority in the Legislative Council in comparison to the permanent members of the colonial power for the first time the elected representatives of the people. Only in 1951 the system was again changed by the Constitution of 1950. Only with this constitution it was the Legislative Council authorized the Speaker of Parliament to choose for themselves. In 1951 the first elections were to now as the Legislative Assembly ( Legislative Assembly ) referred to parliament with 75 elected representatives. Only three representatives appointed by the colonial power and six members appointed representatives of the interests of trade and industry were offset by these elected officials.
A new constitutional amendment in 1954 introduced a party system and increased the number of MPs to 104 representatives of the people, which were again occupied first in the elections to the Legislative Assembly of the Gold Coast in 1954 and later elections to the Legislative Assembly of the Gold Coast in 1956 at the. A new constitutional amendment in 1957 changed the political structure again and formed the constitution after the Westminster system. In June 1960 for the first time attracted 10 women in the National Assembly ( National Assembly) in a newly created seats. By July 1, 1960 Ghana achieved full sovereignty, from the post of Prime Minister was a strong president who was both head of state and head of government. Parliamentary elections there were not, despite the seat expansion in 1960.
After the February 1964 President Kwame Nkrumah pushed through a constitutional amendment, a one-party system in force were members of Parliament, put the parties other than the ruling party almost overnight to members of illegal organizations and partially in custody. The parliamentary elections in Ghana in 1965 resulted in the occupation of all parliamentary seats accordingly by the Convention People's Party of President Nkrumah. The parliamentary function was practically in the hands of the President. With the military coup of 1966, not only the president was deposed, but also the constitution. The government of the National Liberation Council ruled as a military junta without a parliament. A parliament was no more to return to democracy in 1969. In the parliamentary elections in Ghana 1969 140 seats went in Parliament again, the strongest party, the Progress Party of Kofi Busia Abrefa.
After 22 months of democracy and an elected parliament a renewed Ignatius Kutu Acheampong military coup ended in January 1972 to October 1979, the existence of a Ghanaian Parliament. End of 1979, democracy was re-introduced and a new constitution came into force. The parliamentary elections in Ghana in 1979 were held and 140 elected officials began their work on.
This third Republic of Ghana was terminated by a military coup in December 1981 by Jerry Rawlings. Under military dictator Rawlings, the Fourth Republic was proclaimed and elected Rawlings in the 1992 elections held for President in Ghana on January 7, 1992. In this Fourth Republic, the parliamentary elections in 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004 already held four times a democratically. Also brought about by the 2000 elections, political transition was uneventful.