Ghana’s Parliament Attendance Report: 15 MPs Missed Over 10 Sittings Without Permission

A recent parliamentary attendance report has revealed that several Members of Parliament (MPs) absented themselves from sittings without official permission, with some missing more than ten out of forty-three sittings held between January and March 2025.

Absentee Report of Members of Parliament

While absenteeism has long been a concern, this latest report highlights a more structural challenge; the increasing number of parliamentarians who double as Government Ministers, and how that dual responsibility is impacting both legislative oversight and executive performance.

The Numbers Behind the Absences

According to the report, Joseph Frempong (Nkawkaw) recorded the highest number of absences at 22 days without permission, followed by Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson (Ajumako/Enyan/Essiam) with 17 days, and Blay Nyameke Armah (Sekondi) with 16 days.

In total, 15 MPs were absent for at least 10 days or more without permission. Among them were several Government Ministers, whose official duties within the executive branch often require travel, meetings, and engagements outside Parliament.

The Burden of Dual Roles

Ghana’s 1992 Constitution allows the President to appoint a majority of ministers from among sitting Members of Parliament. Although this provision was designed to strengthen coordination between the executive and the legislature, in practice it has created tension between ministerial duties and parliamentary responsibilities.

Ministers are frequently required to attend Cabinet meetings, international conferences, or field inspections, commitments that often coincide with parliamentary sittings. As a result, key government business on the floor of Parliament sometimes suffers from delays, inadequate debate participation, or missed voting sessions.

The effect is a weakened legislative arm that struggles to hold the executive to account, precisely because many of its members are part of the same executive they are meant to scrutinize.

Impact on Parliamentary Business

1. Reduced Oversight Capacity: Ministers who are MPs often miss critical committee meetings where policies, budgets, and bills are examined in detail. This limits Parliament’s ability to offer meaningful oversight of government expenditure and performance.

2. Low Quorum and Delayed Debates: Frequent absenteeism affects the quorum required to transact parliamentary business, forcing delays in debates and passage of bills that are essential to government programs.

3. Weak Accountability Mechanisms: When ministers are absent from Parliament, the opportunity for other MPs to question or challenge policy decisions is diminished, weakening the accountability process that keeps government transparent.

4. Strained Representation: Constituents whose MPs are also ministers often receive less engagement and slower response to local issues. The result is a growing disconnect between citizens and their elected representatives.

   
   

Balancing Governance and Representation

Many governance analysts have called for a review of Article 78(1) of the Constitution, which allows the President to appoint the majority of ministers from Parliament. They argue that separating the legislative and executive functions would enhance both efficiency and accountability.

Such a reform could allow MPs to focus fully on law-making and oversight, while ministers drawn from outside Parliament could dedicate themselves to implementing policy without the divided attention that currently hampers both roles.

The Way Forward

To strengthen governance and ensure Parliament remains an effective check on the executive, the following measures are worth considering:

• Attendance Transparency: Regular publication of attendance records should become a standard practice.

• Constitutional Review: Limit the number of ministers who can also serve as MPs to reduce conflicts of interest.

• Scheduling Reforms: Align Cabinet and parliamentary calendars to minimize overlap.

• Delegation of Duties: Encourage deputy ministers or committee deputies to stand in for absent MPs during sittings.

  
  

Conclusion

The 2025 parliamentary attendance report serves as a reminder that governance effectiveness depends not only on policy but also on presence. When ministers miss sittings, it is not just a matter of attendance, it’s a matter of accountability, representation, and trust in Ghana’s democratic institutions.

As Ghana continues to pursue reforms for a stronger and more responsive Parliament, ensuring that lawmakers and ministers alike give due attention to their legislative duties will be crucial for transparent and balanced governance.