The Minority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, has suggested that the number of MPs in Parliament be reduced from 275 to 200, by collapsing and merging some existing constituencies.
Ghana currently has 275 Parliamentarians overseeing 275 constituencies, but the Minority leader believes the nation cannot afford to have more than 200 constituencies.
Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu said Ghana should consider undertaking a reconfiguration of the constituencies because “it was not for nothing that the constitution mentioned 140 constituencies” as the maximum number of constituencies that should be set up by every government.
“It is important that as a nation we come to the determination that we cannot go beyond 200[constituencies]”he insisted.
Speaking on Citi FM’s News and Current Affairs Programme, The Big Issue, Mr. Hayford said “Look at the calibre of people we have over there[Parliament]; half of them don’t go to work anyway. How many Parliamentarians do you see seated over there? There are only a group of people who are committed and dedicated enough and who go to Parliament and work actively in order to get matters stable.About 60 percent of them hardly go to work under the guise that they are going to see their constituents, they use it as an excuse not to do anything,”
He therefore suggested an upgrade in the minimum requirements for individuals desiring to be parliamentarians to address the problem facing the body.
While the Minority Leader, and Sydney Casley Hayford believe the number of Parliamentarians in Ghana’s Parliament should be reduced, the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) in August, recommended an increase in the number of parliamentary seats from 275 to 400.
This, according to the committee, will help to create an opportunity to bring on board knowledgeable technical experts, marginalized groups as well as women to help and thus contribute more meaningfully to the development of the nation.
Source: ghnewsonline
