The Greater Accra Regional Minister Henry Quartey has lamented the defeat of experienced legislators in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) primaries held on January 27, 2024.
The re-elected parliamentary candidate for the Ayawaso Central constituency explained the replacement of experienced MPs by novices in parliament could have dire consequences.
About 28 incumbent MPs lost their candidature in the 2024 parliamentary election.
Already, 18 MPs from the Majority Caucus, including some veterans, voluntarily bowed out from parliament.
During the parliamentary primaries in 2023, the opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC) also lost 18 experienced MPs, paving the way for new candidates to contest the general elections in 2024.
Speaking in an interview, the Ayawaso Central MP urged the newly elected NPP parliamentary candidates to familiarise themselves with parliamentary practices immediately to fill the gap left by experienced parliamentary candidates.
“Undoubtedly, losing these giant political luminaries has consequences for Ghana as a country and the legislature itself. The young ones coming would have to acquaint themselves with parliamentary practices so that they are able to gradually fill the gaps that these giant legislators have left,” he noted in an interview on Citi News.
However, the experienced MP disagreed with calls on political parties to shield experienced lawmakers during internal elections.
His comment follows the allegation by the Member of Parliament for Asante Akim Central, Kwame Ayimadu-Antwi, that the NPP party failed to protect experienced MPs.
According to the retained MP for Asante Akim Central, the NPP should have emulated the NDC by protecting experienced members.