'Ghana should also organise midterm elections to boot out lazy MPs' – Solomon Owusu

United Party Director of Communications Solomon Owusu has called for midterm elections in Ghana, arguing that poorly performing parliamentarians should face voters before completing their four-year mandates.

He said the conduct of some legislators in Parliament had become a source of concern and suggested that midterm elections could provide an opportunity for constituents to remove representatives who failed to discharge their responsibilities effectively.

Owusu criticised what he described as an embarrassing incident involving an opposition MP who made serious allegations in Parliament but reportedly failed to produce the supporting evidence when challenged.

He questioned how a legislator could make a significant claim before the House without having the relevant documents readily available to substantiate it.

According to Owusu, the MP’s explanation that he had left the evidence in the House and would have to retrieve it undermined the seriousness of the matter.

“How can you wake up and say you are going to State Parliament to make a very serious statement, and when you are asked where the evidence is, you say, ‘I have left it in the house’? Can you imagine?” he asked on TV3’s New Day.

He further questioned the standard of parliamentary conduct, arguing that experience and length of service should not shield legislators from criticism when their actions fall below expectations.

“How did he become distinguishable when you behave like this? If he’s a longstanding member, are people not learning in our Parliament that you don’t wake up and say you have serious information about an issue and, when asked to bring the evidence, you say, ‘Mr Speaker, wait for me, I’m going to the house. I’m now going to bring it. I can’t believe it,'” he stated.

Owusu described the incident as an embarrassment to Parliament and said legislators should be held to higher standards when making allegations or presenting information before the House.

He argued that parliamentary positions should come with responsibility and that MPs must demonstrate seriousness in handling matters brought before the legislature.

He subsequently endorsed calls for midterm elections, saying voters should have an opportunity to assess their representatives before the end of their parliamentary terms.

“And that is why the people of this country, and I agree with you on your earlier statement that we must begin to have midterm elections,” he said.

He added that parliamentarians who failed to perform their duties seriously should be removed through the electoral process.

“At the end of the day, lazy parliamentarians behaving in the House will just be booted out. Are you serious?” he said.