The First Deputy Majority Whip, Comfort Doyoe, has mounted a strong defense for the repeated absence of Majority MPs from recent parliamentary proceedings.
The House has seen consistent absenteeism, particularly by ministers expected to participate in critical presentations.
However, speaking on Starr Today on the evening of Tuesday, August 19, the MP for Ada attributed this trend to the simultaneous scheduling of committee meetings, which she says demand the presence of many MPs.
“We have committees in Parliament, and typically, if a committee has about 12 members, the NDC might have 6 or more members, while the NPP might have around 4 to 6. So, if three committees are sitting at the same time, a significant number of our members will be involved in those meetings,” she explained.
Doyoe stated that while the chamber may appear empty, MPs are not shirking their responsibilities.
“If 3 or 4 committees are working simultaneously, you could have about 40 to 50 MPs absent from the chamber. But their absence doesn’t mean they haven’t come to work, they are simply fulfilling their duties in committee meetings.”
She further highlighted the balancing act MPs must perform, splitting their time between chamber debates, committee responsibilities, and engaging with their constituents.
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“For new MPs especially, it’s important to settle in and actively participate in committee work. At the same time, you must also be present in your constituency, the people who elected you expect to see you, and that builds trust.”
Doyoe also acknowledged the challenges that come with the Majority’s numerical strength, particularly when the opposition temporarily steps out.
“Now that we have the super majority, if the NDC is stepping out and we need to maintain numbers, we might have to assign 10 people, including maybe 3 from the NPP. This will naturally reduce our numbers in the chamber. But again, their absence in the chamber doesn’t mean they are not working: they are simply attending to other essential parliamentary duties.”
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Benjamin Sackey
