Andy Appiah-Kubi, the Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North Constituency and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, has called for pay cuts to address the persistent absenteeism amongst MPs in Parliament.
His appeal comes as the minority caucus, led by Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, continues to boycott parliamentary sessions whenever their leader appears in court. The minority caucus has been absent from Parliament several times, citing their leader’s trial as the reason.
Appiah-Kubi expressed his concerns about the minority’s continuous absence, describing it as a “dangerous precedent” that undermines the democratic process. He emphasized that MPs are elected to represent their constituents and that consistent absenteeism is unacceptable.
Appiah-Kubi suggested that enforcing pay cuts for absent MPs would encourage better attendance and accountability. He stressed that stricter measures are needed to ensure MPs fulfill their responsibilities.
The NDC MPs have expressed their support for Dr. Ato Forson, announcing their decision to boycott parliamentary proceedings whenever their leader is required to attend court sessions. The minority caucus has described the trial of Dr. Ato Forson as a “persecution” of their leader.
Appiah-Kubi’s call for pay cuts has sparked a debate on the need for stricter measures to ensure MPs attend parliamentary sessions. The development has also raised concerns about the impact of the minority’s absence on parliamentary business. The issue has highlighted the need for a more effective approach to addressing absenteeism in Parliament.
