A heated debate erupted in Parliament on Tuesday after the Minority Caucus accused ministers from the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) of showing blatant disregard for parliamentary business, by consistently failing to appear before the House to respond to questions.
The Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, led the charge, describing the ministers’ continued absence as a “disturbing culture of absenteeism” that undermines parliamentary oversight.
According to him, several ministers have repeatedly ignored invitations from Parliament to answer questions, frustrating the House’s constitutional mandate to hold the Executive accountable.
“This trend is becoming very worrying. Ministers are supposed to come here to respond to questions not the other way around. Parliament should not be chasing ministers for accountability,” Mr. Annoh-Dompreh lamented.
The Minority Chief Whip, who also serves on the Business Committee, revealed that despite raising the issue on several occasions, little progress has been made.
He disclosed that some ministers casually claim to be unavailable without officially informing the Speaker or seeking permission in writing.
“When a minister says ‘I’m not available,’ that’s fine. But you must write formally to the Speaker. It is Parliament not the minister that determines whether the excuse is acceptable,” he emphasised.
Mr. Annoh-Dompreh noted that such disregard for procedure has led to a backlog of unanswered questions and disruptions to the House’s agenda.
He reminded ministers that when a substantive minister cannot attend, it is standard practice for their deputy to appear on their behalf.
He, however, commended the Minister for Roads and Highways, describing him as one of the few who regularly honours parliamentary sittings.
“With the greatest respect, the Roads Minister is almost always present. The rest of them should learn from his example,” he remarked.
His comments drew wide support from other Minority MPs, many of whom accused the NDC administration of fostering ‘lazy governance’ and disrespecting the separation of powers by disregarding parliamentary authority.
The Minority Chief Whip also reacted sharply to a suggestion by the Majority Leader that MPs engage in overly long debates. He described the comment as “most unfortunate,” stressing that every contribution made in the House has merit.
“This is the Parliament of Ghana. We determine our own business. Every debate here matters. Calling our discussions long-winded is disrespectful,” he said.
Calling for stronger enforcement, Mr. Annoh-Dompreh appealed to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to ensure ministers comply with the Standing Orders requiring them to appear before the House when summoned.
“This is not a favour, it’s a constitutional duty. Ministers must be accountable to Parliament and, ultimately, to the people of Ghana,” he insisted.
