Seats Of Absentee MPs Should Be Declared Vacant

A PRESSURE GROUP, Economic Fighters League, led by Convention People's Party (CPP) Youth Organiser, Ernesto Yeboah, has petitioned the Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, demanding him to declare the seats of some Members of Parliament (MPs) vacant for their alleged absenteeism from the House.

In a petition issued by a member of the group, Hardi Yakubu, which was sighted by Daily Guide, the Economic Fighters League disclosed that “based on the work of Odekro, it has been established beyond doubt that these MPs have violated article 97 (1) © of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

Article 97 (1) of the 1992 Constitution stipulates that, “A Member of Parliament shall vacate his seat in Parliament (c) if he is absent, without permission in writing of the Speaker and he is unable to offer a reasonable explanation to the Parliamentary Committee on Privileges from fifteen (15) sittings of a meeting of Parliament during any period that Parliament has been summoned to meet and continues to meet”.

Names of Absentees
First on the list issued by the Economic Fighters League are mostly ministers who are also MPs.

They are MP for Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region, Eric Kwakye Darfour; Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, MP for Manhyia South and Minister of Education; Elizabeth Afoley Quaye, MP for Krowor Constituency in the Greater Accra Region and Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture; Samuel Atta Akyea, MP for Abuakwa South Constituency in the Eastern Region.

Also on the list are Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, MP for Sefwei-Wiawso in the Western Region; Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, MP for Ablekuma West and Minister of Communications; Ignatius Baffour Awuah, MP for Sunyani West and Minister of Employment and Labour Relations; Catherine Abelema Afeku, MP for Evalue Ajomoro Gwira and Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts; Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, MP for Dormaa Central; Kwasi Amoako-Attah, MP for Atiwa West and Minister of Roads and Highways; Joe Ghartey, MP for Essikadu/Ketan and Minister of Railways Development; Ambrose Dery, MP for Nandom and Minister of Interior; Dominic Bingab Aduna Nitiwul, MP for Bimbilla and Minister of Defence; Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, MP for Anyaa/Sowutuom and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.

Others are Joseph Kofi Adda, Navrongo Central and Minister of Aviation; Joseph Tetteh, Upper Manya Krobo; Solomon Namliit Boar, MP for Bunkpurugu; William Owuraku Aidoo, MP for Afigya Kwabre South; Kwaku Agyenim-Boateng, Berekum West and Deputy Minister of Railways Development; Tina Gifty Naa Ayeley Mensah, MP for Weija Gbawe; Benito Owusu-Bio, MP for Atwima Nwabiagya North, and Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources; Gifty Twum-Ampofo, MP for Abuakwa North and Deputy Minister for Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection; Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, MP for Takoradi and Deputy Minister of Aviation; Kingsley Aboagye-Gyedu, MP for Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai; Kingsley Carlos Carlos Ahenkorah, MP for Tema West and Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry; Paul Essien, MP for Jomoro; Evans Opoku Bobie, Asunafo North; Alhaji Habibu Tijani Mohammad, MP for Yendi; William Kwasi Sabi, MP for Dormaa East; Osei Bonsu Amoah, MP, Akwapim South; Francis Kingsley Ato Codjoe, MP for Ekumfi; Freda Akosua O. Prempeh, MP of Tano South and Deputy Works and Housing Minister; Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover, MP, Tema East; and Anthony N-Yoh Puowele Abayifaa Karbo, MP for Lawra and Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways.

The rest include Charles Binipom Bintim, MP for Saboba; Sampson Ahi, MP for Bodi; Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, MP for Bolgatanga East; Ahmed Arthur, MP for Okaikwei South; Joseph Benhazin Dahah, MP for Asutifi North; Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Assin Central MP; Ben Abdallah Banda, Offinso South MP; Kofi Okyere-Agyekum, Fanteakwa South MP; Dr. Kwabena Twum-Nuamah, Berekum East MP; Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, Ajumako/Enyan/Essiam MP; Queenstar Pokua Sawyerr, Agona East MP; Mathias Kwame Ntow, Aowin MP; Kwaku Asante Boateng, Asante Akim South MP; Kobina Tahir Hammond, Adansi Asokwa MP; Emmanuel Nii Okai Laryea, Amasaman MP; Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, Assin South MP; Eric Afful, Amenfi West MP; Samuel Ayeh-Paye, Ayensuano MP; Samuel Nartey George, Ningo-Prampram who caught up in an expired drug scandal; and Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, MP for Nadowli/Kaleo, who is fervently seeking to lead the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) into the 2020 presidential elections.

The MPs were from the quarters of the two political parties in Parliament namely the NDC and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

According to the petition, “the records show that for the first session (January to December 2017) of the 7^th Parliament, 54 MPs violated Article 97 (1) (c) by absenting themselves from 15 sittings or more without your permission.

“The records also show that they did not provide any “reasonable explanation” to the Privileges Committee.”

The League in the petition titled: 'Uphold the constitution in accordance with your oath of office,' argued that “doing nothing about this chronic absenteeism makes nonsense of the Constitution and confirms the view that the laws of Ghana only when some classes of citizens are involved and are impotent when others are involved.”