A Former Member of Parliament (MP) for the Kumbungu Constituency, Ras Mubarak, has petitioned the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, to deal with absentee Members of Parliament (MPs).
According to Mr Mubarak, provisions of Article 97(1)(c) of the Constitution and Parliament’s Standing Order 16(1) frowns on Members absenting themselves for 15 sitting days and that those who flout the regulations should appear before the appropriate quarters.
His move followed revelations that the Dome Kwabenya MP, Sarah Adwoa Safo, had not reported to the House since it reconvened on January 25, and without written permission from the Speaker.
Per Article 97(1)(c) of the 1992 Constitution, a Member of Parliament shall vacate his seat “if he is absent, without the permission in writing of the Speaker and he is unable to offer a reasonable explanation to the Parliamentary Committee on Privileges from fifteen sittings of a meeting of Parliament during any period that Parliament has been summoned to meet and continues to meet.”
The petition copied the leadership of both sides of the House, Mubarak said according to Parliament’s Hansard, four New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs have flouted the rule on absenteeism and should be made to appear before the Privileges Committee of the House.
They are Sarah Adwoa Safo, Henry Quartey, the MP for Ayawaso Central; Ebenezer Kojo Kum, the MP for Ahanta West and Ken Ohene Agyapong, MP for Assin Central.
“In view of this reported breach of the constitutional provision, I respectfully petition your high office to direct for their conduct to be referred to the Privileges Committee for consideration and necessary action,” the petition said.
“The Standing Orders of Parliament is not clear as to who can or should raise the matter of absenteeism on the floor of the House for a debate and or referral by Mr Speaker to the Committee on Privileges. But it is incidences like these, if unattended to that threaten our democracy,” Mr Mubarak said.
“I humbly submit that democracy can only work if Parliament puts the common good ahead of party and personal interest.
“At a time of seeming collapse of trust in politics, and Parliament, as an institution, it is my fervent prayer that the House would rise to the occasion and be united on this matter, so as to uphold our constitution and also win back waned public confidence,” he added.
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI
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