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The attendance record from the ninth parliament sitting from January and March 2025 has revealed the Members of Parliament (MPs) who recorded the highest number of absences during the House’s session in 2025.
The report covered 43 sitting of the ninth parliament from January and March 2025.
The attendance record from Parliament exposed the MP for Bortianor-Ngleshi, Amanfro Felix Akwetey Nii Okle, as the most absent lawmaker, missing 23 sittings, followed by the MP for Nkawkaw, missing 22 sittings and the Kumawu MP Ernest Yaw Anim, missing 21 sittings.
“Other MPs with high absentee rates include Col. Kwadwo Damoah (Rtd.) of Jaman South, who missed 19 sittings; Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, MP for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam and Minister for Finance, who was absent 17 times; and Blay Nyameke Armah of Sekondi, who missed 16 sittings.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu and Minister for Foreign Affairs, recorded 15 absences, while Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie (Effiduase-Asokore), Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah (Takoradi), and Kwaku Agyeman Kwarteng (Obuasi West) each missed 14 sittings”.
Also, “Sam Nartey George (Ningo-Prampram), Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo (Wa Central) — Minister for Employment — and Francis-Xavier Sosu (Madina), were each absent 13 times”.
Meanwhile, Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has threatened Members of Parliament who fail to attend sittings.
According to him, the Members of Parliament who fail to attend sittings risk losing their seats.
Speaker Babgin revealed, he received attendance reports of the first and second sittings in parliament, but decided not to publish in the hope of the attendance improving.
Addressing the House on Wednesday, Mr Bagbin stated, “It looks like that was a catastrophic mistake I made,” the Speaker said. “I should have brought it out and referred members to the Privileges Committee.”
“I have given directives to the clerks at the table to take the records for this meeting. We will be taking action to compel members to sit or to be considered to have vacated their seats,” Mr Bagbin stressed.
Meanwhile, Mahama Ayariga, the Majority Leader in Parliament, has revealed that President John Dramani Mahama is fully prepared to assent to the anti-LGBTQ+ bill.
He revealed that President John Mahama told him he would not hesitate to sign an anti-LBGTQ+ bill if parliament passes the bill.
Also, Speaker Bagbin, on the floor of Parliament, explained that the bill, which was first introduced during the Eighth Parliament, had to be reintroduced in the Ninth Parliament.
He detailed that parliamentary procedures do not allow for the automatic transfer of unpassed legislation between sessions.
Speaker Bagbin highlighted that the legislative process encountered some setbacks with the former president’s refusal to assent to the bill, and also debates over whether the current administration should adopt it as a government-sponsored bill.
However, the Speaker explained that both the Majority and Minority sides have shown strong bipartisan support.
He further indicated that President Mahama is willing to give assent once it is passed.
Alban Bagbin stated, “We understand the expectations and the passion surrounding this bill”.
“What we are doing is to ensure that when it is passed, it will stand the test of time and be implemented effectively.”