The members of the Council of State have called for deeper collaboration between the Council and Parliament to foster development.
They made the call after meeting the Speaker of Parliament, Alban S. K. Bagbin, and leadership of the House.
The meeting also discussed a number of issues of national interest, including the need to critically examine the 1992 Constitution to start the necessary amendments which have been necessitated by the practicalities of operating the Constitution for almost three decades.
Holds discussions with Trade and Lands Ministers
A statement signed by the secretary to the council, William Kartey, said leadership of the Council of State also had interactions with the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, and the Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr. Alan Kyerematen.
In an interaction with Mr. Jinapor, members of the Council of State reiterated their support to help stop illegal mining activities which have led to the pollution of several river-bodies and contributed sharply to deforestation in the country.
The Council indicated their readiness to step-up advocacy, and also donate seedlings and other resources toward work being done by the ministry.
Mr. Jinapor announced that his ministry has embarked on enhanced measures dubbed ‘Operation Clean River Bodies’ and the ‘Greening of Ghana Project’.
“The Council pledge its support in the form of advocacy and donations of seedlings and other resources to the ‘Greening Ghana Project’.”
The meeting took place as part of the fourth session of the Council of State focused on strategies for tackling the menace of galamsey and its destruction of the environment; notably forests, farmlands and water-bodies.
In line with its work, the Council also met with Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Alan Kyeremanten, on steps taken by the ministry to revitalise the local economy through trade and industrialisation at the back of devastating effects from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr. Kyerematen, in his interactions with the Council, touched on the opportunities among others presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to the country and continent as a whole.
Key to discussions with the minister was the advice to intensify engagements between industry and academia – toward aligning educational curricula to demands of the industry.
In a meeting with the leadership of Parliament on many issues, the Council also emphasised the need for collaboration between the two bodies. This, it is believed will highlight the Council’s active involvement in the law-making process.
thebftonline.com
