The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has warned Members of Parliament (MPs) over persistent absenteeism, saying those who continue to absent themselves from sittings without permission risk losing their seats.
Addressing the House on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, the Speaker expressed deep frustration with the low attendance that has plagued parliamentary sittings since the House reconvened last week, describing the situation as a threat to the integrity of the legislature.
Mr Bagbin revealed that although he had compiled attendance records for the first and second meetings of the year, he deliberately withheld their publication in the hope that MPs would show improvement. He admitted, however, that the decision had backfired.
“It looks like that was a catastrophic mistake I made,” he said. “I should have brought it out and referred members to the Privileges Committee.”
The Speaker noted that he had instructed parliamentary clerks to take detailed attendance for the current meeting and warned that members who failed to meet the attendance requirements would face disciplinary action in line with the Standing Orders and constitutional provisions.
“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,” he stated firmly.
According to Article 97(1)(c) of the 1992 Constitution, any MP who absents himself from 15 sittings in a meeting without written permission from the Speaker shall automatically forfeit his seat. Mr Bagbin emphasised his intention to enforce this rule strictly, saying the era of tolerance for absenteeism was over.
“It’s for good reason we decided that we’ll sit in the afternoons so that you can take the morning to attend committee meetings, prepare reports, and attend to your constituents and that by 2 p.m., you should be ready to sit,” he reminded lawmakers.
He explained that afternoon sittings were designed to allow MPs to interact with ministries and agencies during official working hours, while evening sessions enabled the public to follow parliamentary debates and hold their representatives accountable.
“In the evenings, people have the opportunity to sit, watch, advise you, and make inputs. That again we are not taking advantage of. I’m saying this for the last time,” the Speaker cautioned.
Mr Bagbin expressed disappointment over what he described as the growing disregard for plenary sessions, stressing that the poor attendance was eroding public trust in Parliament. “I’m not happy with the way members value plenary sessions,” he said. “You yourselves, those of you who are always here, I see from your faces that you are with me in this matter.”
The Speaker’s warning marks one of his most direct attempts yet to restore discipline and accountability in Parliament, where absenteeism has become a recurring concern. His insistence on enforcing attendance rules signals a renewed push to strengthen parliamentary efficiency and reinforce respect for the institution’s constitutional responsibilities.
info@businessghana.com
