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Inside DEC 1, 2018 .qxp_Layout 1 11/30/18 9:47 PM Page 5 06 News DAILY HERITAGE MONDAY DECEMBER 3, 2018 Parliament is half-empty as we see it on TV BY NANA BRAM OKAE II IT APPEARS Parliament of Ghana is short-changing the people of Ghana in a number of ways. Anytime there is a story in the media concerning the august house of Parliament accompanied by a video clip on Television, we see several empty seats giving the impression that absenteeism is very high in the House. Full-time job But you see, being a Member of Parliament (MP) is a full-time job, not a part-time job. We elect MPs to do a full-time job on our behalf by making laws and to put the executive arm of governance on its toes as well. Regrettably, we see many slips in the work of MPs and many concerned and patriotic citizens are calling on them to be up and doing to satisfy the needs and concerns of Ghanaians. For instance, the law setting up the National Identification Authority is problematic and it’s so because the august house didn’t look at it critically at the time they were considering it. That’s not the only one. Agreements with power producers are said to be detrimental to the republic because much care was not taken when they were being scrutinized. NDC MPs Now, a section of MPs, particularly from the NDC side are kicking against the use of the law that Parliament crafted to be used by the NIA to register Ghanaians. What is this? Is it the proverbial double standards or what? Ladies and gentlemen, I’m not sure why we see empty seats in the august house when the TV cameras move there. It may be because some Parliamentarians are at committee meetings or doing some other things related to their work in the building. However, that is not how it should be. At every meeting in the august house, there should be a quorum before business starts. This is mandatory and not optional. Lack of quorum renders any •Parliament House decision taken by MPs null and void for which reason the Speaker must at all times be notified if there is no quorum for him to stop proceedings till there is quorum. Quorum should be 1/3 of all MPs put together and if we do the arithmetic we will get an answer of 91. This means that at every sitting of Parliament we should not get fewer than 91 MPs sitting in and contributing meaningfully. Unfortunately, this is not the case on several occasions. Hansard We can even check from the Hansard, the official record of proceedings in Parliament to verify who were present and who were not present at different times of sitting. This may be very easy to do You may recollect that not long ago a civil society grouping came out to catalogue MPs who are habitually absent in the house and number one on the list is the Education Minister. They say the reason for his habitual absence may be due to his other duties as a minister. That is not good enough excuse to be habitually absent in Parliament. You notice that every MP is a full-time law maker in Parliament where he owes his allegiance first and foremost. If for one reason or the other an MP is made a minister or deputy minister, he should combine both duties very effectively as they do in the UK whose parliamentary practices we seek to copy line, hook and sinker. UK Ministers For your information, in the UK, all ministers are MPs and they don’t absent themselves from Parliament like our ministers and deputy ministers do here with pomposity and glee. Our Parliament has enormous powers but we don’t see them carry out those responsibilities. The Privileges Committee for instance, is as powerful as the High Court of Ghana and yet they fail The ‘wee-smoker-cum rapper’ Blakk Rasta who said ‘MPs also smoke wee’, was also hauled before the Privileges Committee and they ‘twisted’ his arm so much that he was literarily compelled to say, ‘I was on heat’ (whatever that means) when he made the remark about the Parliamentarians. to bite. A few years ago, several Members of Parliament were ‘outraged’ by a statement made by Prof. Stephen Adei when he was invited to be the guest speaker at a school function in Accra. Prof. Adei had something scathing to say about the MPs and those of them who were not enthused about that vowed to haul him before the Privileges Committee to explain what he meant. Happiness I was beside myself with happiness then when the threat was issued by the MPs because it would be a real showdown between them and Prof Adei and I looked forward to it. But there was no show after all; the MPs were not brave enough to haul Prof Adei before the Privileges Committee. Which is very interesting! Professor Dodoo, then of the Medical School at Korle Bu had earlier been hauled before the Privileges Committee and made to swallow his words after saying something deemed unpalatable by the MPs. The ‘wee-smokercum rapper’ Blakk Rasta who said ‘MPs also smoke wee’, was also hauled before the Privileges Committee and they ‘twisted’ his arm so much that he was literarily compelled to say, ‘I was on heat’ (whatever that means) when he made the remark about the Parliamentarians. Prof. Stephen Adei What did Prof. Stephen Adei say about MPs at the function? He said when you pick ten Members of Parliament and you dig deep, you will come to the realization that eight of them are thieves, ‘glorified thieves,’ as he put it. Prof. Badu Akosah has also on a few occasions, accused our MPs of under-hand dealings. He has said that as a former top government official having to work with MPs on a number of issues he could also say that not all MPs are honourable enough, going by their deeds. In effect, he agrees with Prof. Adei that not all of our MPs are straight-forward in their dealings with the public and state institutions as a whole. Prof. Adei, I believe, will not say anything without having reasons to say so. At his age he has no reason to sweep things under the carpet. Rather, he should speak out and help right the wrongs in society for everything in society right now-- morality, religion, education, governance, discipline, ethics, etc. etc., have all broken down and we need to correct them, and correct them fast before they become fully festered Payment Members of Parliament are paid to do a job for us, full time, not part-time, and I’m unhappy to see the house half-empty most of the time. All of them should be present (or at least one third of them) when there are proceedings except of course, those who have permission to attend to other duties. But by and large, there should be quorum at every time Parliament sits otherwise they are short-changing the people of Ghana and that’s exactly what they are doing—they are not fully doing the work for which we stood in the sun for hours and voted for them. By regulations and conventions, any meeting, particularly, those that are official including parliamentary meetings must necessarily have quorum before the meeting starts and the quorum must subsist throughout the pendency of the meeting otherwise decisions by the body remains null and void. I have seen on television several instances where there appears to be no quorum and yet proceedings go on. MPs, bring the honour back onto yourselves because we call you honourable. I rest my case.
Inside DEC 1, 2018 .qxp_Layout 1 11/30/18 9:47 PM Page 6 Importance of Shea butter • Moisturising The concentration of natural vitamins and fatty acids in Shea butter makes it incredibly nourishing and moisturizing for skin. It is often used to remedy dry skin and to help protect the skin’s natural oils. • Reduces inflammation A 2010 study found that due to its cinnamic acid and other natural properties, Shea butter was anti-inflammatory. One compound in particular, lupeol cinnamate, was found to reduce skin inflammation and even potentially help avoid skin mutations. This also makes it beneficial for some people with acne. • Skin smoothing Shea butter aids in the skin’s natural collagen production and contains oleic, stearic, palmitic and linolenic acids that protect and nourish the skin to prevent drying. With long term use, many people report skin softening and strengthening as well as wrinkle reduction. WWW.DAILYHERITAGE.COM.GH DAILY HERITAGE MONDAY DECEMBER 3, 2018 &Env. Choosing your birth control method BY OKOENE CHINENYE CYNTHIA SELECTING WHICH type of birth control to use can be very confusing. From birth control pills to birth control implants, there are many options to choose from. It helps to start by answering a few basic questions. Consider the following: How important is it for you to be protected from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)? Not all birth control methods protect against STDs; How effective do you want your birth control? Some birth control methods are more effective than others; Are convenience and cost important in your decision?; Do you want birth control that lasts a while?; How much can you afford to spend on birth control?; Does sexual pleasure affect your decision in selecting a birth control method?; and Do you want a birth control that enhances your sex life? While abstinence is the only 100% effective birth control method, other methods can be almost as effective when used properly. Effectiveness of birth control methods is measured during ‘typical use,’ meaning how effective the method is during actual use, including inconsistencies and incorrect use. Natural family planning Not all birth control methods are associated with a device, medication, or procedure. Natural family planning, or fertility awareness, involves timing your sexual activity to avoid a woman's most fertile time. By understanding when a woman is most fertile, a couple can avoid pregnancy. How is it used? A woman is most likely to get pregnant if she has unprotected sex during the five days prior ovulation, the day of ovulation and a day or two after ovulation. There are a few different methods that can be used to predict when you will ovulate. Measuring basal body temperature and monitoring cervical mucus are ways to determine when a woman will ovulate. The calendar method is also useful in tracking your cycles on a calendar. Your health care professional can train you in the safest way to use this method correctly. The natural method is inexpensive or free, does not involve drugs or medical procedures and no STD protection. Keeping track of your cycle is required, spontaneity is limited and there is low effectiveness rate. Spermicides are chemicals that kill sperm and prevent them from fertilizing the egg. They are available in different forms such as foams, creams, jellies, or films. Spermicides must be inserted deep into the vagina before sexual activity. Spermicide blocks the cervix and keeps the sperm from moving, which prevents the sperm from reaching the eggs. They are most commonly used in combination with other birth control methods rather than them being used alone. Low cost (about $8 per package), easy to use, can be inserted by a partner as part of foreplay, extremely easy to purchase and can be used during breastfeeding. No STD protection though. It may be messy, may irritate the penis or vagina and has low effective rate if used alone. Male condoms Glow-in-the-dark condoms, flavoured condoms, studded condoms and many more provide birth control that can make your sex life safe and exciting! The male condom is a barrier method involved in preventing contact between sperm and egg. Latex male condoms are the classic methods of barrier to contraception, but they can be made of natural animal membrane, polyurethane, silicone, or other synthetic material. During ejaculation a condom is designed to catch semen, stopping it from entering the vagina. How to put on a condom Everyone who is sexually active should know how to put on a condom. If you want it to work properly, you have to know how to use it. Luckily it’s super easy! Start with the condom on the tip of the erect (hard) penis and roll it down toward the base of the penis. Make sure there is a small pouch at the condom tip so it can catch the ejaculated semen. After Don’t worry if you feel the condom move side to side, that is normal. You should definitely stop intercourse if the penis slips between the condom and the vagina or if the outer ring is pushed into the vagina. Once your partner has ejaculated, squeeze and twist the outer ring to keep the semen in the pouch. Gently pull the female condom out of the vagina. ejaculation, hold on to the condom at the base of the penis before removing it from the vagina in order to avoid leakage. Condoms are not reusable, use it once and it’s done! Keep track of the condom’s expiration date, as expired condoms should not be used. How effective are condoms? They are good for STD prevention, extremely easy to purchase, inexpensive, and some are even free! The average condom costs about $1. Easy to use, spice up your sex life! Male condoms can provide increased sensation for both partners. Try experimenting with different styles, shapes, flavours, and textures of male condoms. Can be used for oral, anal, and vaginal sex and can be used with other birth control methods One-time use is required every time you have sex, and the condom must be used properly in order for effectiveness but may not be as effective as other birth control methods. Female condom Looking for a way to enhance your sex life and practise safe sex? This birth control option is a plastic, pouch-like device inserted in the vagina before sex that offers clitoral stimulation. The female condom can also be inserted into the anus prior to anal sex. The female condom has flexible rings at each end that can stimulate the clitoris during vaginal sex. How do female condoms work? Female condoms can be inserted up to eight hours prior to sexual activity, and they are very simple to use. Female condoms can be inserted by a partner as part of foreplay. To insert a female condom, first apply lubricant or spermicide to the outside of the closed end. Next, squeeze the sides of the ring at the closed end and insert it into the vagina like a tampon. Push the inner ring into the vagina as far as it can go, until it reaches the cervix. The outer ring will hang about an inch from the vagina. Once the pouch is inserted, the ring at the closed end holds it in the vagina and sperm is prevented from entering the vaginal canal. Don’t worry if you feel the condom move side to side, that is normal. You should definitely stop intercourse if the penis slips between the condom and the vagina or if the outer ring is pushed into the vagina. Once your partner has ejaculated, squeeze and twist the outer ring to keep the semen in the pouch. Gently pull the female condom out of the vagina. How effective are female condoms They are good for STD prevention, safe, simple, and convenient, extremely easy to purchase, inexpensive, about $4 for a pack, offers clitoral stimulation and allows additional foreplay Not as effective as other birth control methods, and may cause irritation of the vagina, vulva, penis, or anus, reduced sensation during intercourse and crackling or popping noise during intercourse. To be continued. The writer is a public health nurse.
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