Hear, Hear! Not Yeah, Yeah! – Parliamentary Service Staff clarifies during WASS CEC’s Visit

If you have ever witnessed parliamentary proceedings, there is a particular chant by the Members of Parliament to indicate support for a course of action or statement. Do not be deceived into assuming it is “yeah, yeah”. The Parliamentary Service of Ghana has clarified that the chant is “hear, hear”, and not yeah, yeah, which has gained popularity among the citizenry.

This clarification was made during an NCCE-facilitated educational visit to the Parliament of Ghana by members of the Civic Education Club (CEC) of West African Senior High School (WASS). In addition to this, the CEC members were exposed to knowledge of the various components within the Chamber.

Touching on the sitting positions of MPs within the chamber, an officer from the Public Engagement Department, Ms. Rebecca Christiana Hutchful, indicated that the majority caucus occupies seats towards the right-hand side of the Speaker, whereas the left-hand side is reserved for the minority caucus. She added that a special seat on the immediate left of the majority leader is designated for individuals such as ministers of state, and other government appointees at state-owned enterprises, who are invited by the legislative house for questioning.

She pointed out that the officers who are seated in front of the Speaker are referred to as Clerks-at-table. “The box in front of the Clerks-at-table, by which the invitees ultimately stand to provide responses to inquiries sought, is called the Dispatch Box”, Ms. Hutchful highlighted, stating that “the space between the seat designated to such invitees and the dispatch box is known as the Bar”.

She further mentioned that parliamentary proceedings usually commence with a special conventional prayer said by the Speaker, a period during which all present, including the members of Parliament, the public in the gallery, and the staff at post in the chamber, are expected to be on their feet until the Speaker is done saying the prayer.

The students were marveled at the systems and practices of Ghana’s Parliament, and commended the NCCE for coordinating what they described as an insightful visit.