The First Meeting of the First Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic ended last Friday with a call on Members of Parliament (MPs) to strive to consolidate the consensus building approach that permeated discussions of issues that were brought before the House during the meeting. The Speaker of the House, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, who gave the advice, commended the MPs for their commitment and hard work that enabled the House to achieve so much in a relatively short period. The House is expected to reconvene on May 26, 2009 for the Second Meeting of the First Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic. The first meeting began on January 7, 2009 with the inauguration of the Fifth Parliament after the historic election of the first female Speaker, Mrs Bamdford-Addo. Two hundred and twenty seven elected MPs of the legislature, comprising of 230 MPs were sworn in. This was as a result of the absence of the MP for Assin North, Mr Kennedy Agyapong, and the controversy surrounding the elections at Asutifi South and Akwatia. Other highlights of the meeting included the presentation of the State of the Nation Address by the President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, the presentation of the Budget and Financial Policy of the government and the vetting of ministers and deputy ministers nominated by the President. Within eight weeks, the House held 34 sittings, passed four bills while 62 motions were tabled and approved. Forty-six papers were also laid for consideration, while the House also made two resolutions to replace its members in the ECOWAS and Pan-African Parliament. Sixteen statements were made by MPs while the House received 19 communications from the President. It was however sad that the MP for Jirapa, Mr Edward Kojo Salia, died during the meeting. Mrs Bamford-Addo stated that the meeting had been eventful and commended the MPs for the bond of friendship that had developed among them within the period in spite of a few misunderstandings. She noted that the multiple views that were expressed across the political divide was a mark of maturity of the country's democratic dispensation and commended the leadership for working together for such an achievement. The Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, assured the nation that the Minority would always offer constructive criticism to keep the government on its toes to, ensure that the right thing was done in the interest of the people. "We are resolved to protect, uphold and defend the Constitution to ensure the growth of democracy", he said and promised that the Minority was prepared to build consensus and partner the Majority to move the country forward. He warned against the creeping ethnocentrism in the country's politics, and called for such tendencies to be nipped in the bud before, they matured to erode the gains so far made since the beginning of the fourth Republic. For his part the Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, thanked the MPs for exhibiting the spirit of co-operation, consensus and compromise in the House, and called for the continuation of such comradeship in subsequent meetings. He announced that the Appointment Committee of the House would meet .during the recess to vet deputy ministerial nominees who were not considered during the meeting. Mr Bagbin added that after the committee had completed its vetting and reports, the House would reconvene to give its approval or otherwise of the nominations. Source: Daily Graphic