130 MPs will not return to Parliament in 2021
Nearly 50 percent of the legislators in Ghana’s parliament will not return to the House in the 8th Parliament when it convenes in January 2021.
This is one of the interesting tales resulting particularly from the very competitive 2020 parliamentary elections which has for the first time in the country’s history seen the two leading political parties sharing an equal number of seats in Parliament based on official information from the Electoral Commission.
Other factors such as losses at party primaries and voluntary decisions to exit parliament has accounted for the number of MPs who will be missing in action in Parliament at least for the next four years.
A Citi News analysis reveal that of the 130; 14 voluntarily decided not to seek re-election while 50 failed in their bid to be re-elected during their various parliamentary primaries.
65 others lost the 2020 parliamentary elections.
NPP had the most number of casualties
Most of the MPs who will not return to the legislative house are members of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
On the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) side, at least 33 of them will not be in the House for the next parliament.
MP-Ministers shown the exit
Many of those from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who fell casualty are serving ministers of state including deputies.
Some popular names in this category include Barbara Oteng Gyasi, the Tourism Minister who lost her bid to retain the Prestea Huni Valley seat and Elizabeth Afoley Quaye, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister who lost the Krowor seat.
Deputy Health Minister, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye lost the Ledzokuku seat just as Deputy Transport Minister, Nii Titus Glover lost the Tema East seat.
First-timers taking early leave
The Member of Parliament for Okaikwei North, Fuseini Issah will not be in the 8th parliament after losing his seat to a new entrant on the ticket of the NDC.
Kumbungu MP, Ras Mubarak is also taking an early leave of Parliament after serving only one four-year term.
He lost in the NDC primaries.
According to Citi News’ Parliamentary correspondent, Duke Mensah Opoku, majority of those who will not return to parliament are first-time MPs.
“Most of the time, people come and struggle to find their feet and this is based on a number of things. Not finding the right mentors, not getting unto the right committees, not getting the right advice , not breaking out of your shell early and not having a foothold over the constituency such that it affects your mood and psychology while in parliament.”
Duke Mensah Opoku remarks that while this number of fallen MPs appear huge and shocking, it “is in tandem with what we usually see. The attrition rate is about 50%.”
The list below features some of the 130 MPs who will not return to the House in 2021.
| PARLIAMENTARIAN | CONSTITUENCY |
| Alban Bagbin | Nadowli-Kaleo |
| Richard Quashigah | Keta |
| Inusah Fuseini | Tamale Central |
| Dr Bernice Adiku Heloo | Hohoe |
| Magnus Kofi Amoatey | Yilo Krobo |
| Clement Kofi Humado | Anlo |
| Fiifi Kwetey | Ketu South |
| Joseph Yieleh Chireh | Wa West |
| Daniel Kwesi Asiamah | Buem |
| Emmanuel Nii Okai Laryea | Amasaman |
| Mathias Kwame Ntow | Aowin |
| Amenga-Etogo | Chiana Paga |
| Ras Mubarak | Kumbungu |
| Francis Dakura | Jirapa |
| Aziz Abdul Muniru | Akan |
| Eric Osei-Owusu | Afram Plains South |
| Adams Mutawakilu | Damongo |
| Edward Kaale Ewola Dery | Lambuisie |
| Abdul Rauf Tanko | Yagaba Kubori |
| Sualihu Dandaawa Ahlassan | Karaga |
| Mohammed Abdul Aziz | Mion |
| Simon Acheampong Tampi | Tatale Sanguli |
| Alhassan Umar | Zabzugu |
| Mahama Shaibu | Daboya Mankarigu |
| Mumuni Alhassan | Salaga North |
| Dr Robert Baba Kuganab-Lem | Binduri |
| Samuel Abdulai Jananyite | Chereponi |
| Joseph Naabu | Yunyoo |
| Felicia Adjei | Kintampo South |
| Mohammed Massawud | Pru West |
| Derek Darko Ohene Asifo Bekoe | Upper West Akim |
| George Oduro | New Edubiase |
| George Andah | Awutu Senya |
| Yaw Buabeng Asamoah | Adentan |
| Boniface Abubakar Saddique | Madina |
| Siaka Stephens | Jaman North |
| Yaw Afful | Jaman South |
| Ali Maiga Hamidu | Dormaa West |
| George Gyan Baffuor | Wenchi |
| Derrick Oduro | Nkoranza Noth |
| Charles Konadu Yiadom | Nkoranza South |
| Abena Durowaa Mensah | Assin North |
| Barbara Asher Ayisi | Cape Coast North |
| Francis Kingsley Cudjoe | Ekumfi |
| Alexander Abban | Gomoa West |
| Joseph Tetteh | Upper Manya Krobo |
| Ebenezer Nartey | Ablekuma Central |
| Hajia Alima Mahama | Nalerigu Gambaga |
| Titus Glover | Tema East |
| Joseph Kpemka | Tempane |
| Adongo Frank Fuseini | Zebilla |
| Anthony Karbo | Lawra |
| Michael Gyato | Krachi EAst |
| Paul Essien | Jomoro |
| Barbara Oteng Gyasi | Prestea Huni Valley |
| Kofi Amoakohene | Atebubu Amanten |
| Gabriel Osei | Tain |
| Oko Boye | Ledzokuku |
| Elizabeth Afoley Quaye | Krowor |
| Solomon Namliit Boar | Bunkpurugu |
| Martin Oti Gyarko | Techiman North |
| Catherine Afeku | Evalue Gwira |
| Mathew Nyindam | Kpandai |
| Salifu Braimah | Salaga South |
| Joseph Dahah Benhazin | Asutifi North |
| Daniel Okyem Aboagye | Bantama |
| Kwabena Owusu Aduomi | Ejisu |
| Collins Owusu Amankwah | Manhyia North |
| Ben Abdallah Banda | Offinso South |
| Kennedy Kankam | Nhyiaeso |
| Kwame Asafu-Adjei | Nsuta/Kwamang/Beposo |
| Joyce Adwoa Ako Dei | Bosome Freho |
| Dr Kojo Appiah Kubi | Atwima Kwawoma |
| Joseph Albert Quarm | Manso Nkwanta |
| Nana Amaniampong Marfo | Afigya Kwabre North |
| Dr Kwabena Twum Nuamah | Berekum East |
| Kwasi Sabi | Dormaa East |
| Anthony Effah | Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa |
| Abraham Odoom | Twifo Atti Morkwa |
| Nana Amoako | Upper Denkyira East |
| Mark Assibey-Yeboah | New Juaben South |
| William Agyapong Qauitoo | Akim Oda |
| Seth Kwame Acheampong | Mpraeso |
| Ama Sey | Akwatia |
| Opare Ansah | Suhum |
| Kwabena Ohemeng Tinyase | Kade |
| Robert Kwasi Amoah | Achiase |
| Eric Kwakye Darfour | Nkawkaw |
| Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh | Ablekuma North |
| Vincent Sowah Odotei | La Dadekotopon |
| Ahmed Arthur | Okaikwei South |
| Kofi Brako | Tema Central |
| Alhaji Habib Saad | Bortianor Ngleshie Amanfro |
| Alhaji Wahab Wumbei | Tolon |
| Charles Bintin | Saboba |
| Dr Sagre Bambangi | Walewale |
| Joseph Kofi Adda | Navrongo Central |
| Godfred Bayong Tangu | Wa East |
| Patrick Adama | Sissala West |
| Ridwan Abass | Sissala East |
| Joe Mensah | Kwesimintsim |
| Ato Panford | Shama |
| Alex Agyeku | Mpohor |
| Patrick Bogyako Kwame Saime | Amenfi East |
| Kingsley Aboagye Gyedu | Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai |
| Dr Anthony Akoto Osei | Tafo Pankrono |
| Kwabena Appiah Pinkrah | Akrofuom |
| Dr Ziblim Iddi | Gushegu |
| Shirley Ayorkor Botchway | Anyaa Sowutuom |
The Majority leader and Member of Parliament for Suame constituency, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu has already expressed regret over the exit of experienced legislators from the House.
For him, the absence of Ben Abdallah Banda, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and Dr Assibey-Yeboah, Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament in the next parliament will be a major challenge to the House.
He has on various forums called for some form of protection for old and experienced legislators from being removed from Parliament.
“Mr Speaker, my heart is out there for every incumbent MP seeking a return. The more experienced MPs, the stronger our Parliament will become,” he remarked in June during a parliamentary debate.”
Source: Citi
