- New attendance report lists MPs with the most absences during Parliament’s first 2025 session
- Felix Akwetey Nii Okle tops the list with 23 missed sittings
- Joseph Frempong and Ernest Yaw Anim follow with 22 and 21 absences, respectively
A newly released attendance record from Parliament has identified Members of Parliament (MPs) with the highest number of absences during the first session of 2025.
The report, covering 43 sittings between January and March 2025, names Felix Akwetey Nii Okle, MP for Bortianor-Ngleshi Amanfro, as the most absent lawmaker, having missed 23 sittings within 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 notably high absentee rates include Col. Kwadwo Damoah (Rtd.) of Jaman South (19 absences), Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, MP for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam and Minister for Finance (17 absences), and Blay Nyameke Armah of Sekondi (16 absences).
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.
Additionally, Sam Nartey George (Ningo-Prampram), Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo (Wa Central) — Minister for Employment — and Francis-Xavier Sosu (Madina) each recorded 13 absences.
In response, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has directed parliamentary clerks to tighten attendance monitoring, warning that continued absenteeism could result in sanctions, including the loss of parliamentary seat, in line with the House’s standing orders.
