Dr. Samiu Kwadwo Nuamah, former Member of Parliament for Kwadaso, expressed serious concerns about the diminishing quality and effectiveness of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament compared to their counterparts from the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
In an interview with Oyerepa Radio monitored by Kumasimail, Dr. Nuamah lamented that the calibre of NPP parliamentarians has been steadily deteriorating, particularly when measured against the performance of NDC MPs.
“If you look at Parliament, NPP, our quality is coming down. If you compare NPP and NDC, ours is down,” he stated.
He further explained that this decline is evident in the delivery and contributions of NPP MPs during parliamentary deliberations.
According to him, the once robust and dynamic engagement of NPP representatives has now taken a “nose dive,” a trend he attributes to the party’s candidate selection process and the pressures placed on MPs.
He emphasized “Quality in terms of delivery, we cannot match the NDC. If you follow deliberations in the House, you will see how the NPP was then; now it is falling. It is what you would call a nose dive.
“I went to Parliament and had an engagement with the Clerk, and he even agreed with the point. It’s not about name-calling; in general, the trend is declining, and it is coming down due to the way we elect our candidates. The pressure we put on them does not help them to gain a solid grounding”, he explained.
Dr. Nuamah highlighted that the way NPP candidates are elected and the unrealistic expectations from constituents undermine MPs’ ability to establish a solid foundation in Parliament.
He pointed to the example of seasoned MPs like Kyei Mensah Bonsu, who served Suame for nearly 28 years, sometimes unopposed, allowing him to build deep connections and experience.
He also cited Muntaka, who initially was not considered sharp but grew into his role over time, emphasizing the need for MPs to be granted at least one full term to settle into their responsibilities and demonstrate their capabilities.
He stressed “Look at someone like Kyei Mensah Bonsu; he served for about 28 years, and in some elections, he went unopposed two or three times. This shows that the people of Suame treated him well. Someone like Muntaka wasn’t sharp at first, but now he’s sharp, the more you serve, the more it helps you.
“That’s why I am saying at least the first term should be granted to everyone to get their grounding and to show their people what they can do. But after just the first term, you want to unseat him”.
He criticized voters for misunderstanding the nature of parliamentary work, often equating MPs’ visibility in the constituency with their effectiveness.
“The way we vote, if we elect an MP and send him to Accra, we turn around and say we don’t see him. But it’s the same people who sent him to Accra,” Dr. Nuamah noted adding “they think those MPs who play football with them in the constituency are the ones working”.
Addressing common misconceptions, Dr. Nuamah remarked that some constituents believe MPs who are less accessible by phone or less visible locally are not working hard.
“I listen to some people who say when they call their MP, he doesn’t pick up. Maybe he’s seriously working,” he said, urging the public to appreciate the demands of parliamentary duties.
He also pointed out that many MPs rely on prepared statements during debates, which anyone could deliver, but few have the ability to stand and make compelling arguments, a skill he finds lacking among many NPP MPs.
“Do you follow the budget debate? How many people (MPs) are able to speak for us (NPP)? In Parliament, we have people who speak by reading prepared statements that anyone can do; it is not difficult. But when people stand on their feet and deliver arguments, how many are able to do that in our Parliament?” he asked rhetorically.
Source :www.kumasimail.com /Kwadwo Owusu
