Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Emmanuel Tornyi
Published on 2024-02-06 17:41:37
In a significant change in the internal dynamics of the party leading up to the 2024 general elections, a total of 28 Members of Parliament (MPs) have been unsuccessful in their attempts to secure a return to Parliament. This indicates a shift in the political landscape and a potential reconfiguration of party dynamics.
Of these 28 MPs, nineteen are affiliated with the majority caucus of the NPP, and they have indicated that they will not be running for re-election in the parliamentary elections in 2024. This decision by a significant number of MPs from the ruling party underscores the changing political landscape and the potential for new faces and voices in Parliament in the coming years.
Amidst these changes, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has called on all stakeholders, especially the political parties, to address the issue of MPs exiting Parliament and prevent its recurrence. He emphasized the importance of preventing the wastage of resources and ensuring a smooth transition of legislative representation in Parliament.
Bagbin expressed his concern over the loss of 28 MPs through the primaries of the NPP and the earlier loss of 17 MPs through the primaries of the NDC. He highlighted that while primaries are part of the process for the electorate to determine their representatives, the voluntary discontinuance and deselection of MPs are not positive signals for the legislature and Ghana’s democratic development. He stressed the importance of experience in Parliament but also underscored the significance of party endorsement in the electoral process.
The Speaker also drew attention to the cost and impact of the haemorrhage of MPs on the nation, appealing to political parties to take the issue seriously. He emphasized that the investment made in individual MPs is substantial for the nation, and it should not go to waste every four years. This call for greater consideration of the impact of MPs exiting Parliament reflects a growing recognition of the need to ensure stability and continuity within the legislative body.
Overall, the decision of 28 MPs being unsuccessful in their attempts to secure a return to Parliament, and the indication by nineteen NPP MPs that they will not seek re-election, point to a changing political landscape in Ghana. This shift has prompted calls for greater attention to the process of MP selection and the need to ensure a smooth transition of legislative representation for the benefit of the nation and its democratic development.
Read Original article on Pulse News
