Sam George, Ablakwa Among Top Absentee MPs in Parliament Per 1st Session Attendance Report
- The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, directed parliamentary clerks to strengthen attendance monitoring
- Some Members of Parliament missed over a dozen of the 43 sittings held during Parliament's first session of 2025
- The data showed that 34 legislators attended all 43 sittings held between January 7 and March 29, 2025
Attendance data from Parliament showed the members who recorded the highest number of absences during the House’s first session of 2025.
Citi News reported that data from 43 sittings held between January and March 2025 listed MP for Bortianor-Ngleshi Amanfro Felix Akwetey Nii Okle as the most absent legislator.
Source: Facebook
Okle missed 23 sittings during the period.
He was followed by Joseph Frempong of Nkawkaw, who was absent on 22 occasions, and Ernest Yaw Anim of Kumawu, who missed 21 sittings.
Other MPs with high absentee rates include Col. Kwadwo Damoah (Rtd.) of Jaman South, who missed 19 sittings; Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, MP for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam and Minister for Finance, who was absent 17 times; and Blay Nyameke Armah of Sekondi, who missed 16 sittings.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu and Minister for Foreign Affairs, recorded 15 absences, while Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie (Effiduase-Asokore), Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah (Takoradi), and Kwaku Agyeman Kwarteng (Obuasi West) each missed 14 sittings.
Several others, including Sam Nartey George (Ningo-Prampram), Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo (Wa Central) and Francis-Xavier Sosu (Madina), were each absent 13 times.
A number of the MPs cited, notably George, Forson and Pelpuo, are also serving as ministers of state.
Ewald Garr, a governance analyst, noted that it was right for constituents with MPs serving as ministers to be concerned. "It is okay to feel that he is not contributing to discussions in Parliament," he said to YEN.com.gh.
“That is the bane of the system we practice, which requires a good chunk of ministers to come from Parliament.”
"The executive role is very demanding. You could be travelling all the time. Example, is Hon. Ablakwa [who serves as the Foreign Affairs Minister."
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has since directed parliamentary clerks to strengthen attendance monitoring.
In the past, MPs have been queried for missing 15 consecutive days of work. Then Dome Kwabenya MP, Sarah Adwoa Safo, was among three MPs hauled before Parliament's Privileges Committee for absenting themselves from Parliament.
Article 97 (1) (c) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 17 of the Standing Orders of Parliament state that an MP shall not absent himself or herself during a meeting for more than 15 sittings without the permission in writing of the Speaker.
Source: Facebook
List of most compliant MPs
The data showed that 34 legislators attended all 43 sittings held between January 7 and March 29, 2025.
They include:
- Adjei, Felicia (Ms) (Kintampo South)
- Aidoo, Michael Kwasi (Oforikrom)
- Akurugu, Faustina Elikplim (Mrs) (Dome-Kwabenya)
- Alajor, Seidu Alhassan (Chereponi)
- Alhassan, Suhuyini Sayibu (Alhaji) (Tamale North)
- Amadu, Tanko Mustapha (Bia West)
- Amankwa-Manu, Kofi (Atwima Kwanwoma)
- Asante-Boateng, Kwaku (Asante Akim South)
- Awuni, Theresa Lardi (Ms) (Okaikwei North)
- Ayamba, Laadi Ayii (Hajia) (Pusiga)
- Ayiku, Benjamin Narteh (Ledzokuku)
- Bekoe, Frank Asiedu (Suhum)
- Bandim, Abed-Nego A. Lamangin (Dr) (Bunkpurugu)
- Braimah, Bawah Muhammad (Alhaji) (Ejura Sekyeredumase)
- Brefo, Bright Asamoah (Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai)
- Dziwornu, Lawrencia (Ms) (Akuapem South
- Gakpey, Kwame Dzudzorli (Keta)
- Gyan-Mensah, Richard (Gomoa West)
- Jajah, Yussif Issaka (Ayawaso North)
- Larbi, Oscar Ofori (Aowin)
- Mmieh, Anthony (Odotobri)
- Mohammed Sherif, Abdul-Khaliq (Dr) (Nanton)
- Nandaya, Stanley Yaw (Wulensi)
- Nikyema Billa, Alamzy (Chiana-Paga)
- Nkansah-Boadu, Mavis (Mrs) (Afigya Sekyere East)
- Ntoso, Helen Adjoa (Rev) (Krachi West)
- Opoku, Isaac Yaw (Dr) (Offinso South)
- Owusuah, Rachel Amma (Ms) (Dormaa East)
- Salam, Damata Ama Appianimaa (Ms) (Afigya Kwabre South)
- Shaib, Jerry Ahmed (Weija- Gbawe)
- Sulemana, Yusif (Alhaji) (Bole Bamboi)
- Toobu, Peter Lanchene (Supt Rtd) (Wa West)
- William, Ntebe Ayo (Tatale- Sanguli)
- Yibor, Isaac Awuku (Domeabra Obom)
Former minister speaks against truant MPs
YEN.com.gh also reported that Kwadwo Agyei Darko, former Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, urged Ghanaians to vote out truant MPs in the build-up to the 2024 election.
The former minister said the rampant absenteeism of MPs from parliament was a grave concern and ought to be addressed.
He said truant MPs needed to be voted out in the 2024 parliamentary elections by constituents as punishment.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
