A pillar in Parliament doesn't allow Speaker Bagbin to see my hand — NDC MP explains to constituents to retain him

Kofi Arko Nokoe, MP for Evalue Ajomori Dwira

Member of Parliament (MP) for Evalue Ajomori Gwira, Kofi Arko Nokoe, has explained why he rarely contributes to discussions in the country's Parliament.

According to Nokoe, being a first-time MP in Ghana's Parliament is not easy, especially as he always sit at the back of the chamber.

He lamented that there is a pillar blocking his view of the Speaker.

He stated that the Speaker Alban Bagbin cannot even see his face when he raises his head to speak.

The lawmaker made the revelation while hosting the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer hopeful in his constituency on Tuesday, March 28.

"Being in Parliament as a first-timer is not easy. Because if you come to Parliament for the first time, you are sitting right at the back.

"And where I am even sitting in Parliament, there is a pillar in front of me. When I even raise my head, the speaker does not even see my face,” he noted.

The MP further appealed to his constituents to retain him in the next election, lamenting that the Evalue Gwira constituency has a tradition of only electing MPs for one term.

He urged them to break this tradition and give him the opportunity to continue serving them in Parliament.

"And in Evalue Gwira has been the one term, one term (for Members of Parliament). We plead with you that for the first time in Evalue Gwira, we will break the one-term jinx,” he added.

While some have criticized Nokoe for his lack of participation in parliamentary discussions, others have pointed out that his situation is not unique as many first-time MPs in Ghana's Parliament struggle to make their voices heard, as they are often relegated to the back benches with limited opportunities to contribute to debates.