Losing long serving MP’s is weakening parliament – Former MP

The former MP for Bantama constituency, Henry Kwabena Kokofu has expressed worry over the trend at which long-serving MP’s are losing their seats saying it is weakening the Ghanaian parliament.

He stated that the spate at which these long-serving MP’s in parliament are losing their seats is taking the beauty and experience at the house saying it will have a great toll on the quality of the house, especially on national debates.

Speaking on Accra based Kingdom FM 107.7 Midday News, Mr. Kwabena Kokofu stressed that, it is high time the trend is curbed to strengthen the house and their debates.

His comment follows the shock and defeats that some Members of Parliament faced in the NDC primaries over the weekend that saw a total of 9 incumbent MP’s losing their bids to contest the 2020 parliamentary election on the ticket of the NDC.

It was the first batch of the crucial primaries which was held on Saturday with the date for the second batch yet to be announced by the NDC.

There are concerns about the negative effect of the 9 MPs and others who will lose their ticket to represent the NDC in the 2020 elections and the impact it will have in parliament.

Some of the losers include – Wa West MP, Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Amasaman MP, Emmanuel Nii Okai Laryea, Kumbungu MP, Ras Mubarak, Buem MP, Kwesi Asiamah, Afram Plains south MP, Eric Osei-Owusu, Aowin MP, Mathias Kwame Ntow, Chiana Paga MP, Amenga-Etogo, Jirapa MP Francis Dakura, Akan MP, Aziz Abdul Muniru.4

He added that it is a good idea to have new faces in parliament to help blend with the long-serving and experienced MP’s but says the number of long-serving MP’s should not be reduced.

Mr. Kokofu called for the schooling of delegates on the duties of MP’s and who they should be voting for to represent their constituency to help reduce the rate of monetization of politics and elections.