The Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Suame, Mr. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, has indicated that the revised Standing Orders of Parliament will capture the ban on the use of cells phones on the floor during parliamentary business.
He pointed out that before works would be concluded on the revised Standing Orders and presented on the floor for approval, the aspect on ban on cell phones in the chamber would be included to ensure sanity in the chamber for effective business execution.
The Suame MP who doubles as the Leader of Government Business again hinted that visitors as well as journalist would be prevented from using their cell phones on the floor.
Following a media encounter with the leadership of the house organised by the Public Affairs Department of Parliament to evaluate parliamentary business for the Second Session of the Seventh Parliament, Mr. Mensah-Bonsu re-echoed that it is unprofessional to receive calls during meetings and such actions show some level of disrespect.
“You do not go to any legislative Assembly to find Members of Parliament, using their cell phones. There is no such practice in the World where Parliamentarians make calls or use their cell phones while business is seriously done on the floor of the house. It is unprofessional. The same principle will apply to the media and visitors in the chamber. No one would be allowed to use their cell phones during sitting”, he added.
Mr. Mensah-Bonsu further explained that it is embarrassing when a member is debating or making a statement and suddenly, another member’s cell phone rings to disrupt the house.
Meanwhile, the new Standing Orders is still under review by the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee and is expected to be presented to the whole house for further scrutiny.
Source: Ghanajustice/S.Ayisi
