Parliament has begun the process to improve the IT infrastructure in the chamber, including automation of voting and marking of attendance of lawmakers, Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, has said.
According to him, the Parliamentary Service Board, chaired by Speaker Bagbin, has approved requests from some vendors to implement automation solutions in the chamber.
He indicated on the floor of Parliament yesterday that the parliamentary automation solution is designed to simplify parliamentarians’ work by integrating a session management platform with a vote automation system and marking of attendance.
“Speaker and the Board have taken some decisions to improve automation and digitalisation within the chamber, which is ongoing.
“I am aware that some vendors have submitted requests and some of them have been approved even to change the whole system here, in order that even for the purpose of voting, we can do so using the system,” he stressed.
Mr. Iddrisu, who is also a member of the board, said he was aware that the board was awarding a contract in that respect, pointing out that the problem with the earlier vendor was his failure to integrate and harmonise with a new provision which is to come.
“Members should be assured that before the close of this year, the board will take decisions appropriate to improve the IT infrastructure generally in the chamber,” he submitted.
He disclosed that the board again had given approval for broadband presence within the precinct of Parliament to be increased.
The Minority Leader explained that this is to improve MPs’ access to the use of the internet beyond what is provided on their mobile phones, noting, “That again the board has given approval. I am sure very soon that will also be deployed.”
BY Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House