Peter Ayinbisa, the Upper East Regional Communications Director for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has called for comprehensive reforms in Ghana’s Parliament to improve its functioning and restore public confidence.
Speaking on A1 Radio, Mr. Ayinbisa addressed the recent chaos in Parliament during the vetting processes, highlighting the need for significant changes to make the institution more honorable and effective in representing the people.
According to him, the root cause of many issues within Parliament lies in the current political system, which he argues is overly reliant on financial resources. He explained that in today’s political climate, candidates seeking parliamentary seats are often chosen based on their ability to fund their campaigns rather than their capacity or competence. He emphasized the need to eliminate this “monetary politics,” starting with the abolition of the delegate system, which he believes has become a barrier to selecting truly qualified leaders.
“We have to do away with monetary politics because everything starts with the primaries. As it works today, you become a parliamentary candidate and subsequently an MP if you have money. If you don’t have money, you cannot become any of these. The selection of people to represent us is purely based on who has the capacity to buy the delegates. So first of all, we have to abolish the delegate system.”
Beyond structural changes, Mr. Ayinbisa advocated for a fundamental shift in the mindset and behavior of Members of Parliament (MPs). He called for a reorientation of MPs, suggesting that they should be provided with clear guidelines and a code of conduct outlining acceptable behavior.
“If there’s proper orientation, there should be a code of conduct for MPs. You must know your limits—where to start and where to end—because some of these behaviors are unparliamentary.”
He also proposed that such training should begin early, ideally during their education, so that future leaders understand the responsibilities of their positions from day one.
“If we are able to inculcate this, the MP, right from day one, will begin to have that training, develop that ambition, and learn what they should and should not do.”
Additionally, the NPP official stressed the importance of MPs understanding the weight of their roles and the need to be exemplary figures. He urged MPs to lead lives that are worthy of emulation and serve as role models for their constituents. He explained that the behavior of MPs directly impacts the reputation of the people they represent, and when MPs misbehave, it reflects poorly on the electorate who voted them into office.
“So I think MPs should begin to live lives that are worthy of emulation—lives that serve as role models and inspire others.”
On the matter of leadership, Mr. Ayinbisa pointed out that effective leadership is crucial for fostering an environment where diverse opinions can be expressed openly.
“Leadership is key. Our leaders must allow people to express their opinions.”
He argued that allowing people to voice their concerns is essential for preventing situations where frustrations fester and lead to outbursts, as seen in recent parliamentary incidents.
Source: A1Radioonline.com | 101.1 MHz | Gifty Eyram Kudiabor | Bolgatanga
