Parliament Resumes With Call To Examine Many Petitions On The Enactment Of Plant Breeders Bill

Parliament has indicated that due diligence is being employed in the enactment of the Plant Breeders Bill. Mr. Adjaho said based on the many communications that have come before him, the Leaders of the House are looking at existing policies vis-�-vis the concerns raised to come out with a holistic bill. He said this as he welcomed MPs from their recess. The Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho has directed the leadership of the House to examine the many petitions brought to the Legislature with regard to the Bill. Civil Society Organizations have raised questions over the likelihood of the introduction of Genetically Modified Organisms, GMOs into the country with the enactment of the Plant Breeders Bill. As the House began sitting, the issue of Mission Schools being run solely by the Churches that established the schools also came up strongly. The proposal for the debate was put forward by the MP for Akatsi North, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe in a statement on the Floor of Parliament. He said the level of moral decadence being experienced in the country brings to question the level of supervision of the GES� educational units. He said the aspect of religious and moral education seem to be missing from the current educational dispensation and cited this as a major contributory factor to indiscipline in society. Mr. Nortsu-Kotoe therefore advocated that government hands over schools set up by religious bodies to them so they can man them and promote discipline in the schools. The call for religious bodies to take over the running of schools originally established by such faiths is not a new one. The MP for Akatsi North, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe in his statement said District Directorates of education are facing a number of challenges that make it difficult for them to adequately supervise the schools. Mr. Nortsu-Kotoe who is also the Vice Chairman of the Select Committee on Education said it is about time government engaged the religious bodies in dialogue geared at handing over the management of the schools to them. The MP for Asawase, Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka said though, Ghana through its educational system had done well to ensure harmony in society, there is the need for more to be done and asked for circumspection in taking the decision in handing over schools to religious bodies. The MP for Weija Gbawe, Rosemund Abrah was of the opinion that whiles the various faiths are advocating a reversal to the old system of manning their own schools, such a move will come at a cost. The First Deputy Speaker, Ebo Barton Odro based on the submissions made, tasked the clerk of parliament to furnish the Ministry of Education with a copy of the sentiments raised by the House for further action.