Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has expressed concern over the exit of some experienced legislators from both sides of the house.
It follows the defeat of many lawmakers who lost their seats in the various parliamentary primaries, with others deciding not to seek re-election.
Mr. Bagbin urged all stakeholders, especially political parties, to address this issue.
He emphasized the importance of experienced lawmakers in Parliament and the need to prevent further losses.
“We woke up one Saturday, and by the evening, we had lost 28 MPs through the primaries of the NPP. Earlier last year, we lost 17 MPs through the primaries of the NDC. Honourable members, the primaries are part of the process for the electorates to determine who represents them in Parliament.
“However, the case of voluntary discontinuance of five and 19, followed by deselection of 17 and 28, is not a good signal for the legislature and Ghana’s democratic development. Experience, as we all know, counts in this house, but the endorsement of your party is equally important.”
“Honourable members, the cost to the nation, however, are matters of great concern worth considering by all stakeholders, and I want to appeal to the political parties to take this up seriously because the investment that is made in an individual MP is so huge for the nation just to go to waste after every four years,” he stated.
He called for urgent action to preserve the valuable expertise of seasoned legislators.
Mr Bagbin stressed the detrimental impact of losing experienced lawmakers on Ghana’s democracy.