Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has expressed strong disappointment over the persistent absenteeism of some Members of Parliament (MPs), cautioning that those who continue to neglect their parliamentary duties risk losing their seats.
Addressing the House on Wednesday, Mr. Bagbin revealed that he had received attendance reports for both the first and second meetings of the current session but had deliberately withheld their publication to give members an opportunity to improve their attendance.
However, he admitted that the gesture had failed to yield the desired outcome.
“It looks like that was a catastrophic mistake I made,” the Speaker remarked. “I should have brought it out and referred members to the Privileges Committee.”
The Speaker further directed parliamentary clerks to take comprehensive attendance records for the ongoing meeting, stressing that disciplinary measures would be enforced against absentee MPs in accordance with the Standing Orders of Parliament.
“I have given directives to the clerks at the table to take the records for this meeting. We will be taking action to compel members to sit or to be considered to have vacated their seats,” Mr. Bagbin stated.
The Speaker’s comments reignite public debate over MPs’ commitment to legislative duties, amid growing concerns about absenteeism and its impact on effective parliamentary oversight and representation.
