The Member of Parliament for Ayawaso Central and Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, has expressed concern over the departure of experienced MPs from Ghana’s legislature. Several seasoned lawmakers from both sides of the House have either announced their decision not to seek re-election after their current terms expire or lost in their parliamentary primaries, indicating an imminent exit from Parliament after the December polls.
The Ayawaso Central MP highlighted the potential impact of their departure on the country’s parliamentary practice. He pointed out the significance of seasoned legislators, exemplifying the enduring presence and contributions of Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu in Parliament as a testament to their importance.
Henry Quartey emphasized that the wealth of experience and contributions of long-serving MPs like Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu have played a crucial role in the country’s development.
He believes that MPs doing their first and second terms and leaving Parliament does not help the parliamentary practice.
In other jurisdictions, some people have been there [in Parliament] for 30 years or more and when you look at the performance of Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, it tells you that you learn on the job and that is what the country needs.
However, the NPP believes that there should be competition, and Henry Quartey commended the national executives for allowing a contest. It was decided at the national council that everyone should be allowed to contest and that nobody should impose a candidate on anybody.
In these unusual times, imposing a candidate could lead to the emergence of many independent candidates or a decrease in the number of MPs who support the party’s choice. But when the people are allowed to make their own choices, they are happy and will come on board with that energy to vote for that person and campaign for them.
