Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, has called on Members of Parliament to report to the House early and observe strict punctuality, warning that delays in proceedings undermine Parliament’s work and project a poor image to the Ghanaian public.
Mr. Ayariga made the appeal on Tuesday, February 3, during proceedings of Parliament, stressing that lateness by MPs often results in ministers waiting for hours and forces the House to sit late into the night to complete its business.
He explained that although ministers are frequently accused of absenteeism, many of them report to Parliament on time but are left waiting because proceedings fail to begin as scheduled.
“I know, for instance, the Finance Minister was here, waiting, and proceedings only started after three hours,” he said, adding that the Speaker was also ready to commence business, but delays were caused by the late arrival of members.
The Majority Leader noted that Parliament is broadcast live and closely monitored by the public, emphasizing that Ghanaians tune in at the scheduled start time to assess whether their representatives are present and ready to work.
Beyond punctuality, Mr. Ayariga urged committee chairpersons handling bills to submit their reports promptly to avoid a backlog that pushes critical legislation to the final days of a meeting.
He warned that delays in reporting on bills place undue pressure on MPs and parliamentary staff, forcing extended sittings late into the night.
According to him, early submission of committee reports will allow Parliament to properly consider bills in good time, ensuring efficiency and preventing a rush to pass legislation at the tail end of sessions.
Mr. Ayariga urged MPs to respect sitting times so Parliament can begin work as scheduled, adjourn when necessary, and recall members efficiently, thereby improving productivity and public confidence in the House
