Parliament has become a waiting room for appointment- Expert

The Executive Director at the African Center for Parliamentary Affairs, has given a damning verdict of Ghanaian Members of Parliament some of whom he claimed go into the House with ambitions other than representing their constituents.

Dr. Rasheed Draman says many of the Parliamentary hopefuls only go to Parliament with the hope of being appointed as ministers of state.

“Our Parliament has become a big waiting room for executive appointment,” he said, adding and when they do not get appointed as ministers they regret ever becoming MPs.

He was commenting on the just ended parliamentary primaries of the governing NDC which saw some big defeats handed to party stalwarts.

Incumbent Member of Parliament of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram was shockingly beaten by his protégé, Sam George in one of the rancorous primaries held over the weekend.

Sports Minister and incumbent MP for Ayawaso North Dr Mustapha Ahmed was also beaten by one Yusif Jahja whilst the Ashaiman MP and Deputy Majority Leader Alfred Agbeshie also lost the primary.

There have been fears the defeats could detract from the wealth of experience in Parliament but Dr Draman believes there is even more to worry about.

Citing what he says is the situation in Kenya, Dr Draman said when MPs leave office in few months they become beggars, disillusioned and some die because they do not fulfill their main reason for going to Parliament which is to get ministerial appointment.

He fears a similar situation may be happening in Ghana.

Dr Draman had concerns about the quality of personnel, including comedians some of whom he said could likely end up in Parliament.

He also did not understand why some aspiring MPs who failed to win in previous constituencies quickly had to run to other constituencies in a desperate bid to get to Parliament.

He said such characters do not have any real reason why they want to represent a particular group of people except to enter Parliament and hopefully be given an appointment.

Dr Draman advised the newly MP aspirants, especially the young ones to learnt the ropes as quickly as possible if they get the opportunity of entering Parliament.