Prof Gyekye advocates for ‘private member’s Bill’ in Parliament
Professor Emeritus Kwame Gyekye has called for the adoption of a ‘private member’s bill’ in Parliament, coming from the citizens and not from government, as part of deepening the democratic process in the country.
He said: “The assumption here is that the citizens are equally concerned, like their representatives in Parliament, about a number of problems of the nation and can draw the attention of the lawmakers to areas that need legislation which may be unknown to the lawmakers.”
Prof Gyekye, who is an Emeritus Professor of Philosophy and Classic at the University of Ghana, proposed the concept on Tuesday in Accra at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) annual lecture in the humanities.
He spoke on the topic: “The constitutional phrase – ‘We the people’ –and the politics of inclusion”.
“If the views and wishes of the people can influence the decisions of Parliament and government, then the people can say ‘we are not in Parliament, but we are in Parliament’.
“This means that, even though the people are not in Parliament, their ideas and views are included in the decisions of Parliament and do influence government policy and action,” he said.
Prof Gyekye observed that the three words: “We the People” embedded in the constitutions of many nations of the world including Ghana have implications for the ideal democratic system of politics that would reflect both the interest and ideas and opinions of the people.
He called for the ideal system of politics which is the ‘inclusive democratic politics,’ adding that in this system, the role of the people should not be confined to electing the party that will govern and the representatives of the people who would go to the Parliament and make laws for the nation.
He said in this system of inclusive politics, ideas, opinions and perspectives of the people must have a place in decisions of the government that affect their lives, they must thus influence the policies and actions of government.
Prof Gyekye said even though the representative system of politics has its weaknesses, it must be considered suitable for societies with large populations all of whom cannot be present in an assembly.
“Bipartisan approach to doing politics or taking decisions in Parliament on the grounds that the person with whom you disagree in democratic politics, quite often has something to say that is worth considering.
“The politics of consensus and compromise, both of which are features of the politics of inclusion must be encouraged,” he said.
Prof Gyekye said the politics of inclusion allows minority members in Parliament to make inputs in the decisions that emerge from Parliament.
He said the politics of inclusion is not an ideal that could not be achieved, but could be achieved in the course of time if we apply ourselves to it.
Prof Aklilagpa Sawyerr, Vice President, GAAS, who chaired the function, asked for half a minute silence to be observed for the late Prof Kofi Awoonor.
The lecture was attended by the academia, students, the media and the public.
Source: GNA