A recent attendance report from Parliament has highlighted the Members of Parliament (MPs) with the highest number of absences during the House’s first session of 2025.
Covering 43 sittings held between January and March 2025, the report shows Felix Akwetey Nii Okle, MP for Bortianor-Ngleshi Amanfro, as the most absent legislator, missing 23 sittings. He was followed by Joseph Frempong of Nkawkaw, absent on 22 occasions, and Ernest Yaw Anim of Kumawu, who missed 21 sittings.
Other MPs with notable absentee rates include Col. Kwadwo Damoah (Rtd.) of Jaman South with 19 absences; Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, MP for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam and Minister for Finance, 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. Several others, including Sam Nartey George (Ningo-Prampram), Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo (Wa Central) — Minister for Employment — and Francis-Xavier Sosu (Madina), were absent 13 times each.
In response, Speaker Alban Bagbin has directed parliamentary clerks to tighten attendance monitoring, cautioning that repeated absenteeism could lead to sanctions, including possible loss of seat, under parliamentary rules.
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