Parliamentarians express worry about loss of incumbent MPs at primaries

Accra, May 22, GNA-Members of Parliament on Thursday expressed concern over the loss of experienced and incumbent members at the primaries of the various parties, and suggested that measures had to be taken to avert the situation which is likely to take a worse turn before the December general elections.

Alhaji Mubarak Muntaka, NDC-Asawase, was dilating on the issue which Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, NPP-New Juaben North had broached. Mr. Owusu-Agyemang had earlier raised an issue on the need for the Electoral Commission to brief the House on its preparation towards the conduct of Election 2008.

He had also drawn the attention of the House to the virtual absence of activities that had characterized business on the floor of the House in early days after its return from recess and the rather pile-up of work that caused extended sittings as it prepared for adjournment. He had said it was necessary the Leadership of the House came up with the schedule of the business of the House so that sitting MPs could properly allot time for their activities, both in and outside the House, especially as a number of experienced and incumbent MPs were losing the seats at the primaries.

Alhaji Mubarak regretted the loss of the mandate of the parties to the sitting legislators to represent them at the next parliamentary elections, explaining further that some MPs in some advanced democracies had been elected as many as 19 times, with some serving as long as 38 years.

Citing the vast knowledge of Mr. Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu, Deputy Majority Leader, on the Standing Orders of Parliament, and the experience of the Deputy Minority Leader Mr Doe Adjaho, Alhaji Mubarak said such legislators become an invaluable storehouse of knowledge on parliamentary work.

He called on the House and the Ghanaian public to appreciate that keeping experienced MPs far outweighed the advent of new ones. Alhaji Mubarak called for steps to be taken by the House to advertise the contributions of the MPs, to national development and not to restrict their assessment to their achievements in the constituency. Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah, NPP-Atwima Mponua, regretted that if care was not taken the House would lose many of the few women it had. He suggested a proportional representation of women and said the MPs must complement the efforts of one another to retain their seats. Mr Gershon Gbediame, NDC Nkwanta South, questioned why some District Chief Executives, who had been elected as parliamentary candidates were still at post contrary to the laws of the land.

The Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Adjaho warned that care must be taken not to impose people on the parties and constituents that would not represent their true choice.

Mr Kyei-Mensa Bonsu suggested to the parties to amend the relevant portions of their constitutions to make it possible to retain sitting MPs.

Mr Freddie Blay, First Deputy Speaker, who sat in the chair, urged the leadership of the House to find time to explore the issue as it affected not only the members, but the very institution of parliament, which they served.