The Parliament of Ghana has initiated steps to clampdown on the use of mobile phones by its members during proceedings in Chamber.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament yesterday, 5th March, the Majority leader, Hon. Osei Kei-Mensah Bonsu disclosed that a proposal enshrined in Parliament’s new standing orders will seek to prevent the use of mobile phones during proceedings when approved.

“Mr. Speaker, I believe the House must make a determination on this, and let me emphasize that the reason why it is being proposed that in the next Parliament, once we accept and indeed adopt the reviewed Standing Orders, no Member will be allowed to bring cellphones into this Chamber,” he stated.

 The majority leader mentioned that the electronic gadgets become a source of distraction to the Members of Parliament (MPs) preventing them from concentrating on the business on the floor. This he argued prevents them from properly contributing to parliamentary discussions and affects their effectiveness in other legislative duties.

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He advised MPs to take avoid these distractions and take their parliamentary work seriously in order to protect the image of the House.

“Mr. Speaker, we need to demonstrate seriousness in this House. When the President of the Republic is talking, Members are fidgeting with their cellphones; when the Minister responsible for Finance comes here, Members are fidgeting with their cellphones; when questions are asked and Ministers are providing answers, Members are fidgeting with their phones. It doesn’t tell a good story about us.

“Mr. Speaker, let’s be very honest with ourselves. The Parliament of Ghana is not the only Parliament in the world. There are established Parliaments in the world who do not allow Members to come to Parliament with their cellphones. That should be the order of the day. Mr. Speaker, we shall apply this forcefully once we adopt the Standing Orders,” he noted.

The reviewed Standing Orders which is yet to be adopted by Parliament, has been in the pipeline since the Fifth Parliament.