Kyei-Mensa-Bonsu’s exit will negatively affect Parliament -NDC MP laments

Member of Parliament (MP) for Banda and First Deputy Minority Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim has decried the high rate of attrition of experienced MPs in Ghana’s Parliament, stressing that the exit of a much-experienced MP like Osei Kyei-Mensa-Bonsu, MP for Suame will negatively impact the ability of Parliament to function optimally.

Mr Ibrahim explained that even though exiting MPs will be replaced, they will not come already experienced with the relevant institutional memory, invariably negatively impacting the capacity of the house.

He lamented the fact that Parliament seems to be allowing too many talented and experienced MPs to leave Parliament, much to its disadvantage.

“The exit of Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu who was trained by J.H Mensah, are you saying it is not going to have a negative impact on parliament, it will. As for representation, you will get somebody to represent you but as for replacement, you cannot replace the institutional memory and capacity of the exiting MP and that is how parliament is going to be negatively affected. We take you, invest in you and throw you out,” he said.He also lamented the departure of other MPs, blaming the Government for precipitating their exit by failing to use their expertise and experience.

“You see Joe Ghartey, you see Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, which post is he holding? Zero. Joe Ghartey, which post is he holding? Zero. I can mention the names of the seniors to you. Joe Ghartey was a former Attorney General and a former Deputy Speaker, but he is there. His party is not using him so he sees himself as being underutilized.And do you think that when that happens, he will contest again, he will not…Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi was a law lecturer from Tech. He is here. They left him and took a first timer as an Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General in those days. Anyimadu-Antwi is still there, a law lecturer, with 16 years in parliament,” he added.

Eighteen (18) experienced NPP MPs are leaving Parliament at the end of the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic. This is because they are not taking part in the Parliamentary primary elections of the NPP.