Executive Director of the Africa Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), Dr Rasheed Draman has said the exit of the Majority Leader Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu and a few other lawmakers from Parliament will leave a very huge vacuum in the House.
He noted that some of these New Patriotic Party MPs who have voluntarily decided not to contest in the upcoming parliamentary primaries will create a vacuum in the lawmaking process.
Speaking on the Ghana Tonight show on TV3 Tuesday December 26, he said “There will be a very huge vacuum.
“If you try to research into, for instance, the lawmaking process in parliament, yes lawmaking happens at the level of the committee, but many will tell you that there are very few MPs who have developed that interest in going through the intricacies and very details of the bills when they come before the House. I can tell you from my experience and my knowledge from working with Parliament that some of these people are those exiting.”
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) closed nominations on December 25 for parliamentary aspirants in constituencies where it has sitting Members of Parliament (MPs).
The election is slated for January 27, 2024.
This is the next stage of the party’s quest to have parliamentarians in all the 275 constituencies. It was preceded by the successful hosting of primaries in what the party calls orphan constituencies on December 2.
At the close of nominations on Christmas day, some experienced members of the party did not pick forms. They have thus, voluntarily decided to end their parliamentary careers.
Here is a list of the MP bigwigs in the 8th Parliament who have bowed out.
Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu (Suame Constituency – Ashanti Region). He has been in Parliament since 1997.
Joseph Osei-Owusu (Bekwai Constituency- Ashanti Region). Has been in Parliament since 2009
Samuel Atta Akyea (Abuakwa South Constituency). He has been in Parliament since 2009.
Joe Ghartey (Essikado Ketan Constituency). He has been in Parliament since 2005.
Kennedy Agyapong (Assin Central Constituency). He has been in Parliament since 2001.
Daniel Botwe (Okere Constituency). He has been in Parliament since 2009.
Kwasi Amoako-Atta (Atiwa West Constituency). He has been in Parliemnt since 2009.
Dr. Kwaku Afriyie (Sefwi Wiaso Constituency). He has been in Parliament since 2017.
Emmanuel Marfo (Oforikrom Constituency). He has been in Parliament since 2017.
Benito Owusu-Bio (Atwima Nwabiagya Constituency). He has been in Parliament since 2005.
Carlos Ahenkora (Tema West Constituency). He has been in Parliament since 2017.
Nana Kwasi Adjei Boateng (New Juabeng North Constituency). He has been in Parliament since 2013.
William Owuraku Aidoo (Afigya Kwabre South Constituency). He has been in Parliament since 2013.
Johnson Adu (Ahafo Ano South West Constituency). He has been in Parliament since 2013.
- Francis Manu-Adabor (Ahafo Ano South-East Constituency). He has been in Parliament since 2017.
- Suleman Sanid (Ahafo Ano North Constituency). He has been in Parliament since 2017.
- Kojo Kum (Ahanta West Constituency).He has been in Parliament since 2017.
- Francisca Oteng (Kwabre East Constituency). She has been in Parliament since 2017.
