Politics

Supporting sitting MPs to retain seats should not be wholesale approach – Political scientist

Isaac Owusu, a political scientist has suggested no democracy in the world supports lazy Members of Parliament (MPs) to retain their seats and should not be a wholesale approach.

“There is no democracy in the world where lawmakers are voted for based on how long they have been in parliament, rather voters look out for someone who is capable, competent, dedicated, determined and committed to the work as a legislator,” he stressed.

Mr Owusu made the suggestion on the back of a decision by Parliament to support and assist sitting MPs should not be wholesale approach since some sitting MPs had failed to live up to expectation, under-performed and should not be supported.

Parliament has hinted it will offer support and assistance to sitting MPs on both the tickets of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in their parliamentary primaries made by Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Majority Leader and NPP MP for Suame in the Ashanti Region, hinted just before parliament rose for recess.

However, Mr Owusu indicated that “there are some sitting MPs who have failed their constituents hence should not benefit from the initiative, what delegates of political parties should look out for when electing candidates to represent political party in a parliamentary election is not only marketable, but also qualified and who will represent interest of constituents.

“Delegates sometimes elect candidates who are able to give money although candidates are not marketable, they should look beyond their political party for a broader picture and someone who will work in the interest of constituents because experience is the backbone of work of parliament, ought to support and assist sitting MPs to win primaries and return to the House,” Mr Owusu pointed out.

On the floor of the House, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who is also the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs riposted, “Mr Speaker, as we are all aware, our brothers in the NDC will be going for their primaries on August 24, for us in parliament we have made arrangements to ensure our colleagues in the party return triumphantly and represent their party in the general election.

“Leadership intends to support and assist incumbent MPs but cannot guarantee for them during general election, after winning their primaries, I will reserve my comment when it comes to general election,” he postulated –rainbowradioonline.com

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