Hot!Politics

We’ll ensure experienced MPs are retained–Aggrey Darko

The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs is strategising to ensure experienced Members of Parliament (MPs) are retained in Parliament to avoid the situation where activities of the House are not affected, especially legislation.

Such situations comes about because most legislators fail to strike a synergy between being lawmaking and also undertaking constituency activities and those who have been unable to strike that delicate balance have always found themselves wanting.

The situation affects activities of the House, especially lawmaking and the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs is working to ensure that experienced parliamentarians are retained in the House.

 Dr Aggrey Darko, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, made the disclosure after nine sitting MPs from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) decided against seeking re-election while nine others who did, lost their bid to represent the party in the parliamentary primaries held on Saturday.

Emmanuel Nii Okai Laryea, Amasaman constituency, Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Wa West constituency and Ras Mubarak, Kumbungu constituency are few examples of those who lost their seats in the elections.

Dr Darko urged the National Commission on Civic Education to intensify public education and sensitisation on the role of MPs to ensure voters do not judge MPs by only their contribution to the growth and development in the constituencies but by quality of work they do in parliament on behalf of the nation.

“This is essential because, most of what pertains in parliament, may not come to the public attention but are nonetheless priceless for the growth and development of the country and the democratic dispensation and putting in place systems, including linking other agencies to address challenge.

“The challenge may require education and sensitisation of MPs themselves as those who failed to contest for personal reasons rather than fear of losing elections, an example is Richard Quashigah, the MP for Keta in the Volta Region,” Dr Darko lamented. 

“I indicated on a number of stations I was seeking to do two terms, being a man of my words and very principled, I decided to keep to that, I am not your normal African politician, no need to cling on to power, you may say parliament is juicy but it is also hard work, it is a job that is psychologically tasking,” Mr Quashigah cautioned. -myjoyonline.com

Show More
Back to top button