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The Institute of Economic Affairs Winner-Takes-All Advisory Committee has recommended that Ghana�s Fourth Republican Parliament must be strengthened to become a more independent legislative body. The Vice Chairman of the committee, Justice Emile Short, who addressed a press conference, said a cross-section of Ghanaians consulted nationwide were of the view that Parliament was handicapped in its fundamental role of initiating legislation because of the interpretation placed on Article 108 of the 1992 Constitution. Article 108 states that Parliament shall not, unless the bill or the motion is introduced by or on behalf of the President, proceed upon a bill including an amendment to a bill that in the opinion of the person presiding, makes provisions for the imposition of taxation. The Article also enjoins Parliament not to proceed on any bill or motion unless the bill is introduced by or on behalf of the President that in the opinion of the person presiding, makes provisions for the imposition of a charge on the Consolidated Fund or other funds of Ghana. Parliament has also been unable to play its fiscal role of ensuring that certain critical governance institutions are adequately funded. These the Advisory Committee observed, did not augur well for genuine democracy and, therefore, recommended that Article 108 of the Constitution should be amended to strengthen Parliament�s primary role of law making, as well as the introduction of Private Members Bill. The Advisory Committee also proposed that the constitutional provision for appointing majority of ministers from Parliament should be amended, and that no Member of Parliament should hold a second position as Minister of State. ��In the event that the President appoints an MP as Minister, the said MP ought to vacate the seat and a bye-election held to fill the position,�� the Advisory Committee proposed. With regard to the appointment of Members of Council of State, the Advisory Committee recommended that the President should be limited to appointing three members only. The remaining eight, the committee recommended, should be nominated by Civil Society Organisations including religious groups, professional bodies and business groups to ensure inclusiveness, as well as increase effectiveness. Alternatively, the committee recommended that the Council of State should be formally reconstituted into a Second Chamber of Parliament which will comprise mainly technocrats and renowned statesmen and women.