Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. ASK Bagbin has expressed a strong conviction that Members of Parliament should not be appointed to serve on boards in state institutions in the country.
According to him, that conduct smacks of political patronage.
Speaking at the swearing-in of newly elected executives of the Parliamentary Press Corps on Monday, April 4, 2022, the Speaker decried the practice where sitting MPs are also appointed to serve on boards with some being appointed as Chief Executives of state institutions without his express approval.
Such appointments of MPs, he said, depletes the House as Minority MPs are the only ones left to debate and hold the government to account.
He said, “I am not under that pressure and I can sail my own boat and I intend to do that.”
“Before anybody is given an appointment, the Speaker must give that certificate. It is not just for the president to sit down and dictate and co-opt everybody and leave Parliament with only the Minority to rather be critical of the government’s actions and inaction.”
“That is not helpful to our democracy and we have to crack the whip on this matter,” he added.