Hon. Davis Ansah Opoku, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Mpraeso Constituency, has shared a deeply thoughtful and pressing sentiment regarding the challenges facing Ghana’s Parliament. His remarks, delivered on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, January 23, 2025, highlighted critical concerns that demand urgent attention.
According to Hon. Ansah Opoku, the high attrition rate among MPs is alarming and detrimental to Ghana’s democratic process. He noted that this issue goes beyond numbers; it is about the loss of dedicated and experienced MPs who could have continued to serve the nation but are forced out due to systemic challenges.
Thoughtful Calculation and Analysis
Hon. Ansah Opoku provided an eye-opening analysis of the issue. He pointed out that from the 7th to the 9th Parliament, a staggering 94% of New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs did not return to the legislative house. This unsustainable trend weakens democracy, disrupts governance, and deprives Ghana of the benefits of institutional memory and experience.
Why Is This Happening?
In explaining the root causes of this high attrition rate, Hon. Ansah Opoku identified several key factors:
- The Crushing Cost of Politics: Many MPs face severe financial burdens during their time in office, leaving them drained both financially and emotionally.
- Divisive Party Primaries: Internal party elections often prioritize money over merit, sidelining competent and deserving candidates.
- Unrealistic Constituent Expectations: MPs are frequently judged on issues outside their legislative role, such as providing personal financial support or addressing local development concerns.
- Unfair Development Responsibilities: Due to the lack of elected Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), MPs are burdened with development duties that fall outside their mandate as lawmakers.
Hon. Ansah Opoku emphasized that a Parliament dominated by individuals who win their seats based solely on financial resources—those with “the deepest pockets”—is not sustainable. This practice erodes the integrity of governance and prevents the emergence of passionate, competent leaders who genuinely want to serve.
“We risk losing the heart and soul of governance in Ghana if we don’t fix this,” he lamented.
Proposed Solutions
Hon. Ansah Opoku did not merely highlight the problem; he also proposed practical solutions to address it. His recommendations include:
- Enforcing Political Funding Laws: By strictly implementing laws that regulate political funding, the undue influence of money in politics can be reduced.
- Public Campaign Funding: Introducing public funding for political campaigns and capping expenses would level the playing field for all candidates, regardless of their financial status.
- Reforming Party Primaries: Primaries should prioritize fairness and merit over wealth, ensuring that the most qualified candidates are selected.
- Electing MMDCEs: Allowing the election of MMDCEs would free MPs from development responsibilities, enabling them to focus on their primary roles—lawmaking and representation.
- Public Education: Educating the public about the actual roles and responsibilities of MPs would help manage constituent expectations and reduce undue pressure on legislators.
A Call to Action
Hon. Ansah Opoku called on all Ghanaians to engage in a collective conversation and push for these much-needed reforms. He noted that building a Parliament that works for the people requires creating space for passionate, competent leaders to thrive—not just those with financial resources to dominate elections.
“It’s about time we prioritize the integrity of our Parliament and ensure that it truly serves the interests of the people,” he concluded.
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