The Majority Leader in Ghana’s Parliament who also doubles as the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Hon Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu has made a startling revelation that, when it comes to the business of lawmaking in the chamber of Parliament, only seven Members of Parliament dedicate their time and knowledge to make it a success.
He said, anytime it gets to the consideration stage of a bill in the legislative house, only a few members sit in the chamber to conduct the business which has been problematic to the house.
The Majority Leader said this at a gathering of civil society organizations in a forum held at Alisa Hotel in Accra on Thursday, October 15, 2020, organized by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs on the theme ” civil society organizations and democratic election in Ghana: the 2020 election in focus”
The Suame Member of Parliament, who is the second longest-serving MP since 1997, cited that example to demonstrate how the high attrition rate continues to weaken the house with an overall effect on the quality of handling Parliamentary businesses.
Mr. Osei Bonsu suggested that the political parties ought to change their current way of selecting parliamentary candidates. He opined that, the longer the MP is retained, the longer he or she gathers parliamentary experience which will go a long way to benefit the country as a whole.
Crediting the members of the Legislative house who dedicate their time and knowledge to the making of laws in the house to fine-tune bills presented to the house, he said on the minority side – Hon Bernard Ahiafo MP for Akatsi South in the Volta Region, Hon Joseph Yileh Chireh Wa west, Hon Inusah fuseini, Tamale Central, and Hon Shaibu Mohammed MP for Daboyah stand tall.
Whereas on the majority side he mentioned Hon Ben Abdalla Banda MP for Ofinso South, Hon Anyimadu Emmanuel Antwi MP for Asante Akyem central, and himself – Hon Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu.
Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu is worried that some of these dedicated MPs are exiting because “as it stands now, the bigger your envelope and quantity of collars, the higher your chances to become an MP”
He lamented that some experienced MPs such as Wa West MP Hon Joseph Yile Kyere, and the Ofinso South MP who is a lawyer and Chairman for the select committee on constitution, Legal and parliamentary affairs, Hon Abdalla Banda are exiting.
He also mentioned the exiting of the ranking member for the select committee on constitution, legal and parliamentary affairs Hon Inusah fuseini who didn’t contest during primaries.
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Kwaku Ansah
