The Executive Director of Parliamentary Network Africa (PNAfrica), Sammy Obeng, has voiced his dismay over the increasing number of scandals that have plagued Ghana’s 8th Parliament since its inception.
He underscored the regrettable incidents ranging from fisticuffs and quarrels to stealing and chewing of ballot papers during the Speaker’s election.
Additionally, the issue of absenteeism has been a concern, tarnishing the Parliament’s reputation.
Mr. Obeng stated that these unsavory scandals are unprecedented and unknown to previous Parliaments.
And urged authorities to take proactive measures to nip such occurrences in the bud and hold those responsible accountable.
His remarks came in response to a statement made by the 1st Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei Owusu, who referred to the 8th Parliament as the worst in Ghana’s democratic history.
The recent adjournment due to the issue of quorum, where the House lacked the required 92 members to make a decision as ruled by the Supreme Court, further raised concerns about the Parliament’s performance.
The Deputy Speaker expressed concern at the raising of quorum during the consideration of Bills by some Minority members, which is unprecedented in previous Parliaments.
The PNAfrica Executive Director recalled the chaotic incident that occurred on January 7, 2021, during the election of the Speaker, which involved ballot snatching and fighting. Despite the Speaker promising an investigation, no report has been made public to date.
Mr. Obeng stressed the urgency of addressing such issues promptly to prevent repetition and ensure accountability among Parliamentarians.
He also highlighted complaints from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) about absenteeism among some Members of Parliament (MPs).
He expressed concern that although the Privileges Committee received referrals regarding these MPs over a year ago, it is yet to submit its report.
Mr. Obeng pointed out that the frequency of these incidents is particularly worrying, as it hampers the potential of the 8th Parliament.
He urged members to recognize the prospect that lies ahead and work collectively to improve the Parliament’s image, as negative reportage caused by such incidents reflects poorly on the institution.
