The Parliamentary Monitoring Organisation, Odekro has petitioned the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin to haul 33 MPs who absented themselves from the House to the Privileges Committee rather than the 3 MPs summoned to the Committee.
The 3 MPs who were summoned before the Committee were Sara Adwoa Safo (MP, Dome-Kwabenya), Kennedy Ohene Agyapong (MP,Assin Central) and Henry Quartey (MP, Ayawaso Central).
The group says it acknowledges the Speaker’s decision exhibited towards high regard for the concerns of many Ghanaians regarding the problem of chronic absenteeism of members of Parliament.
However, our analysis of the Votes and Proceedings, January – April 2022 for the First Meeting of the Second Session of the Eighth (8th) Parliament shows more than three (3) MPs have violated Article 97(1)(c). Odekro says it found 33 MPs who must all be summoned before the Privileges Committee.
Below is the full release with the list of the MPs:
28th July 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mr Speaker! 33 Absentee MPs Should be Hauled Before the Privileges Committee, not 3
On 4th May 2022, it was reported on Parliament’s website that the Speaker of the Eighth Parliament,
Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin “has referred three Members of Parliament (MPs) to the Privileges
Committee for absenting themselves for fifteen (15) sitting days.” The MPs were Hon. Sara Adwoa
Safo (MP, Dome-Kwabenya), Hon. Kennedy Agyapong (MP, Assin Central) and Hon. Henry Quartey (MP, Ayawaso Central).
We acknowledge that the Speaker’s ruling was in line with Article 97(1)(c). In addition, his decision showed high regard for the concerns of many Ghanaians regarding the problem of chronic absenteeism of members of Parliament.
However, our analysis of the Votes and Proceedings (January-April 2022) for the First Meeting of the Second Session of the Eighth (8th) Parliament shows that more than three (3) MPs have violated Article 97(1)(c). We found a total of 33 MPs.
List of Absentees who have violated Article 97(1)(c)
First Meeting, Second Session, 8th Parliament
January – April 2022
Check the full list below;
No. Name Constituency No. of Sittings Missed
1 Safo, Sarah Adwoa (Ms) Dome/Kwabenya 40
2 Quartey, Henry Ayawaso Central 30
3 Agyenim-Boateng, Kwaku Berekum West 28
4 Ghartey, Joe Esikadu/Ketan 28
5 Agyeman-Manu, Kwaku Dormaa Central 24
6 Oppong-Nkrumah, Kojo Ofoase/Ayirebi 24
7 Awuah, Ignatius Baffour Sunyani West 25
8 Mbomba, Thomas Tatale/Sanguli 24
9 Owusu-Ekuful, Ursula G (Mrs) Ablekuma West 21
10 Agyapong, Ken Ohene Assin Central 20
11 Darko-Mensah, Kwabena Okyere Takoradi 20
12 Mahama, Farouk Umar Aliu Yendi 20
13 Adutwum, Yaw Osei (Dr) Bosomtwe 21
14 Dery, Ambrose Nandom 20
15 Ntim, Adelaide (Ms) Nsuta-Kwamang Beposo 20
16 Gyamfi, Emmanuel Akwasi Odotobri 19
17 Morrison, Cynthia Mamle (Mrs) Agona West 19
18 Jinapor, Samuel Abdula Damongo 18
19 Forson, Cassiel Ato Baah Ajumako/Enyan/Essiam 18
20 Frempong, Joseph Nkawkaw 18
21 Ntim, Augustine Collins Offinso North 19
22 Marfo, Emmanuel (Dr) Oforikrom 17
23 Twum-Ampofo, Gifty Abuakwa North 17
24 Ampratwum-Sarpong, Kwaku Mampong 17
25 Ussif, Mustapha Yagaba/Kubori 17
26 Amewu, John-Peter Hohoe 16
27 Mercer, Andrew Kofi Egyapa Sekondi 16
28 Assafuah, Vincent Ekow Old Tafo 16
29 Aidoo, William Owuraku Afigya Kwabre South 15
30 Prempeh, Matthew Opoku (Dr) Manhyia South 15
31 Addi, Teddy Safor Ayensuano 15
32 Bennam, John Jabaah Zabzugu 15
33 Kyeremeh Nelson Berekum East 15
Therefore, the above 33 absentee MPs should be summoned before the Privileges Committee.
The forty-one (41) Votes and Proceedings analysed were all sourced from the Parliament of Ghana. The Votes and Proceedings form the absolute basis for our conclusion – no outside data sources or opinions were used in our analysis.
By Felix Anim-Appau|Onuaonline.com
