Some of our present Members of Parliament have not been selected by their parties to contest the forthcoming elections. The reason one often comes across is that they have not performed well. But what were they sent to parliament to do? Do they know? And do we know? Did we elevate them, make them "Hon" so that they may grace funerals and other ceremonies in the constituency and contribute handsomely at such gatherings? We should all read the Constitution at this election time and educate ourselves on the functions of those for whom we vote. The Constitution is not for lawyers only. Even I can read and understand it. It was made by the people to guide the governance of the country. Those we vote into Parliament acquire the power to make laws, which become effective once assented to by the President. They cannot make laws to transfer funds to the constituency. They can help the constituency by helping to pass laws and take measures which improve the lot of the people including those in the constituency. For example, those proposed for ministerial appointments by the President must be approved of by parliament. In this way even we in faraway constituencies are, if parliament does its work well, saved the embarrassment of being represented by corrupt men and women, drug pushers and womanisers. In this way Parliament, alive to its duties, will ensure that we have competent and accomplished men and women as ministers of state. And how does our Member of Parliament accomplish all this? Herein lies the problem. He or she cannot do this alone. He or she must work with others. That is why parties are important. They consist of generally like-minded people who may come together to see legislation through in the interest of the whole country. If the legislation under discussion is agreeable to the party then party members vote for it and if they form majority a law is passed for the good of the whole country. Parties are, therefore, useful in our form of democracy. Parties must hold together reasonably in Parliament otherwise the necessary laws and measures cannot be adopted. But the leadership of parties can be dictatorial or may be unmindful of the interest of certain constituencies or particular aspects of the national interest. In such instances, those with other views or interests may come together to work for what they consider to be the common good. Such people need not belong to the same party. This is not "crossing carpet" or joining the opposing party. We do not elect people to Parliament to be led like Gadarene Swine to vote as the party leadership dictates. Party discipline and cohesion are necessary for government to function well, but once we elect a person to represent us in parliament he or she becomes a representative of the people. That is what the Constitution and the form of government we have borrowed from the British and Americans imply. What I want to convey is neatly and aptly captured in a speech given over 200 years ago to the Electors of Bristol in England by the British statesman, Edmund Burke. "Parliament is not a congress of ambassadors from different and hostile interests, which interests each must maintain, as an agent and advocate, against other agents and advocates; but parliament is a deliberative assembly of one nation, with one interest that of the whole, where, not local purposes, not local prejudices ought to guide, but the general good, resulting from the general reason of the whole. You choose a member indeed, but when you have chosen him, he is not a member of Bristol, but he is a member of Parliament". It is a difficult idea but we should be proud if our MP champions effective legislation against building in water-courses even if we live cloistered on the Gambaga Scarp. As a matter of fact our MPs have a lot to do to improve life in the constituencies if they implement the provisions of the Constitution. They need not vie with the district chief executive for popularity, importance and influence. The Constitution prescribes that "The Directive Principles of State Policy" shall guide all citizens including parliamentarians and the President in applying or interpreting the Constitution and laws of the country. It enjoins the government and legislators to make democracy a reality by decentralising the administrative and financial machinery of government for the benefit of the regions, districts and the people. Decentralisation, if it is to be effective, must have a purpose. The Constitution, therefore, requests that within two years after the first President assumes power there shall be presented to Parliament a co-ordinated programme of economic and social development policies including agricultural and industrial programmes at all levels and in the regions of Ghana. We should elect people to represent us in Parliament who will see to it that this is done. They should also see to it that Ghana shall have a system of local government and administration which shall as far as possible be decentralised. Parliament is expected to "enact appropriate laws to ensure that the functions, powers and resources are at all times transferred from the central government to local governments". Moreover each local government is to be provided with a sound financial base with adequate and reliable sources of revenue. It must be admitted that some measures have been taken in line with the requirements of the Constitution. But they are neither adequate nor effective. Now Members of Parliament from constituencies that fall within the area of authority of the district assembly are automatically members of the assembly. Even though they do not have the right to vote their influence as the ultimate legislators can be enormous. MPs are, therefore, potentially national, as well as regional celebrities. We should elect parliamentarians who understand their functions and not those who merely rehash outworn manifestos and clichés. We should not by our action encourage MPs when they get "There" to make money by fair or foul means so that they may contribute "generously" at events in the constituency. Source: K. B. Asante/Daily Graphic