Dr. Nicholas Zangina, a member of the Upper East Regional Communications team for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has called for stronger preventive measures to address misconduct among Members of Parliament (MPs).
Speaking in a recent interview on A1 Radio, Dr. Zangina emphasized the need for MPs to sign bonds of good behavior before taking office, highlighting the importance of setting clear expectations from the outset.
According to him, proper orientation is essential to ensure MPs understand the moral and ethical aspects of their role. He stressed that MPs must be trained to treat and relate to one another with respect, regardless of party affiliations. He further added that MPs should view their responsibilities as a commitment to their constituencies rather than to a particular political party, as the interests of the constituency transcend party lines.
Dr. Zangina also pointed to the tendency of some MPs to defend indefensible positions simply out of party loyalty, which he believes fuels much of the chaos and confrontations that occur in Parliament. He argued that if MPs receive proper orientation and understand the collaborative nature of their work, many of these issues could be avoided.
However, he expressed skepticism about whether the situation would improve in the future, criticizing the recent decision to lift the suspension of four MPs involved in a violent altercation in Parliament. He suggested that failing to allow them to serve their punishment had sent the wrong message. Dr. Zangina believes this decision has emboldened other MPs to engage in similar behavior, as they see the consequences of misconduct as negligible.
The call for stricter measures to ensure accountability and good behavior in Parliament comes amid growing concerns over MPs’ conduct, particularly following recent chaos during the vetting processes of some ministerial nominees.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Gifty Eyram Kudiabor|Bolgatanga
