Fresh Faces Join MPs
The next parliament of Ghana will be an exciting blend of young energetic individuals and highly experienced old guards who narrowly escaped 'relegation' at the December 7 hurricane of general elections.
Election results across the country indicated that virile young men and women of various callings are replacing MPs who have virtually become dinosaurs in the lawmaking body since the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1993 or its second term in 1997.
Only three out of the five pioneers of the Fourth Republic survived the December 7, 2012 whirlwind.
Edward Doe Adjaho of Avenor/Ave, now to represent the people of newly created Akatsi South; Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin of Nadowli West (now Nadowli Kaleo) and Alhaji Seidu Amadu of Yapei/Kusawgu were the only 'Mugabes' who managed to go through to next parliament. If they successfully finish the next term, each of them will have been lawmakers for 24 years.
However, their colleague veterans, John Akologu Tia of Talensi, a former journalist and Kwajo Tawiah Likpalimor of Kpandai, Minister of State at the Presidency, saw the curtain come down on their stage in favour of the New Patriotic Party's Robert Nachinab Doameng Mosore and Matthew Nyindam respectively.
Others like Ningo/Prampra MP E.T. Mensah and Sekondi MP Papa Owusu-Ankomah, who entered the House in 1997, retained their seats by the skin of their teeth and might therefore consider bowing out after 2016 before they are compelled by unfriendly circumstances to do so.
Political analysts have said that the next parliament of Ghana would perhaps see the most youthful legislators comprising young lawyers, veterinarians, economists, engineers, technocrats and teachers among others.
Among the fresh and vibrant-looking MPs who are expected to provide fireworks when the new Parliament commences on January 7, 2013 include NPP's Ursula Owusu, representing the people of the newly-created Ablekuma West, Finance and Economic Planning Deputy Minister Fifi Kwetey for Ketu South, deputy Information Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, a former student leader, for North Tongu, Patrick Boamah, a lawyer, for Okaikoi Central, Ahmed Arthur, Okaikoi South, George Loh for North Dayi, Alex Afenyo-Markin for Effutu, who displaced a cabinet minister, Mike Allen Hammah and Sarah Adwoa Sarfo, a lawyer, for Dome Kwabenya.
Others are Water Resources, Works and Housing Deputy Minister Hannah Bissiw, a veterinarian, for Tano South, Freda Prempeh of Tano North, Kwaku Kwarteng for Obuasi West, Sissala East District Chief Executive Alijata Sulemana for Sissala East constituency, Ama Pomaa Ando for Juaben, Dr. Bernice Adiku-Heloo for Hohoe, Kwadwo Kyei Frimpong for Bosome-Freho and former Miss Ghana Benita Sena Okity-Dua (nee Glomeke) for Ledzokuku, Titus Glover of Tema East and Nana Ato Arthur of Komenda Edna Eguafo Abirem.
The tall list of freshers consists of NDC Propaganda Secretary Richard Quashigah for Keta, former night editor at Daily Graphic A.B.A Fuseini for newly created Sagnarigu constituency in the Northern Region, Philip Basoah for Kumawu, Kwame Asafu-Adjei for Nsuta-Kwamang Beposo, Upper East Regional Minister Mark Woyongo for Navrongo Central, Robert Nachinab Doameng Mosore for Talensi and Matthew Nyindam for Kpandai.
Since some of the new entrants are noted for their incisive teeth and acidic tongues, a former MP, Kosi Kedem, has warned them that Parliament is not a place for propaganda, insults and spewing of unsubstantiated allegations and the making of pejorative remarks.
The former MP for Hohoe South pointed out that Parliament was guided by rules that frowned on such misdemeanours, cautioning the fresh MPs to learn the rules governing the legislature before speaking on the floor of the House.
Lawyer MPs
Among the debutants who are lawyers are Alex Afenyo-Markin who uprooted the Lands and Natural Resources Minister Mike Hamah in the Effutu seat, and George Loh for North Dayi and a member of the NDC legal team representing former Attorney-General Betty Mould-Iddrisu at the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament.
Women Elected
About 29 women MPs are among the fresh limbs lacing their boots to enact legislation.
Accordingly, Ghana's next parliament is set to boast of more women than before, considering the parliamentary results declared.
About 133 women contested in this year's parliamentary elections, representing a 30 percent increase over 2008, and the highest number of women to have contested parliamentary seats in Ghana's political history.
Out of the 133 female aspirants, 34 ran in the Greater Accra Region, followed by the Ashanti, 26, and 15 in the Central Region.
Other female candidates in the Western, Eastern, Volta, Northern, and Upper East Regions were 12, 10, 7, 6 and 5 respectively.
The only female candidate from the Upper West Region, Alijata Suleman, won the Sissala East seat on the ticket of NDC.