By Godwill Arthur-Mensah, GNA
Accra, Nov. 03, GNA – Parliament is set to fully implement a Biometric Attendance System during the Third Meeting of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament to ensure accurate and reliable records of Members of Parliament (MPs).
Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament, announced the initiative in his opening address on the floor of the House on Tuesday.
He urged all legislators who were yet to enrol on the biometric system to do so to avoid any inconvenience during parliamentary proceedings.
The Speaker disclosed that 258 MPs had so far been enrolled onto the electronic attendance system and encouraged the remaining members to comply with the directive.
Mr Bagbin said the traditional manual attendance register would no longer be circulated for MPs to sign, explaining that the biometric system was intended to promote discipline, accountability and transparency in the attendance records of lawmakers.
He also announced that each MP would be assigned a designated seat in the Chamber for parliamentary business.
According to him, contributions made by a legislator seated at an undesignated position would not be recognised and such a member would not be permitted to speak on the floor of the House.
The Speaker further announced plans by the Parliamentary Service to pilot and deploy an electronic voting system to minimise errors associated with manual voting processes.
He noted that a digitally enabled Parliament would enhance the quality of legislative business and improve operational efficiency.
Mr Bagbin called on both the Majority and Minority Caucuses to embrace consensus-building and dialogue, devoid of partisan considerations, in advancing the national interest.
He urged members to conduct parliamentary business in a spirit of cooperation, mutual respect, and understanding.
Touching on the legislative agenda for the meeting, the Speaker said Parliament would dedicate a significant portion of its work to the consideration of the Government’s 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy.
He indicated that the House would spend about eight weeks scrutinising the budget proposals.
Mr Bagbin said Parliament was expected to consider 11 Bills, nine legislative instruments, 44 papers and 583 referrals during the meeting.
The House would also take up 58 motions, 204 outstanding questions, and one petition as part of its business schedule for the session.
He expressed confidence that with the cooperation of all members, Parliament would efficiently discharge its constitutional mandate and further strengthen democratic governance in the country.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Godwill Arthur-Mensah
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