The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has warned Members of Parliament (MPs) to maintain consistent attendance at sittings or risk having their seats declared vacant.
The caution follows reports of persistently low attendance in Parliament since sittings resumed last week, a trend that has continued throughout the year.
Under Ghana’s Constitution, any MP absent for 15 consecutive sittings without permission from the Speaker automatically forfeits their seat.
Addressing the House on Wednesday, October 29, Mr. Bagbin said he would strictly enforce these constitutional provisions during the current session.
“It’s for good reason we decided that we’ll sit in the afternoons so that you can take the morning to attend committee meetings, prepare reports and attend to your constituents, and that by 2 p.m., you should be ready to sit,” he said.
The Speaker explained that afternoon sittings were introduced to allow MPs to engage with ministries and public institutions during official hours, while evening sessions were designed to enable citizens to follow parliamentary proceedings more conveniently.
“In the evenings, people have the opportunity to sit, watch, advise you, and make inputs. That again we are not taking advantage of. I’m saying this for the last time,” he cautioned.
Mr. Bagbin revealed that he had directed parliamentary clerks to take detailed attendance records throughout the current session, warning that sanctions would follow if absenteeism persisted.
“We have the Standing Orders. We know what they say. We’ll be taking action to ensure that members are compelled to sit or be considered to have vacated their seats,” he declared.
Expressing disappointment, the Speaker said continued disregard for plenary sessions was eroding public confidence in Parliament.
“I’m not happy with the way members value plenary sessions,” he lamented. “You yourselves, those of you who are always here, I see from your faces that you are with me in this matter.”
Mr. Bagbin also disclosed that he had already compiled attendance records from the first and second meetings of the year but had chosen not to publish them.
“I decided, for good reason, not to publish them but to give you the last opportunity. It looks like that was a catastrophic mistake I made. I should have brought it out and referred members to the Privileges Committee,” he remarked.
Source: Adomonline
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