Methuselah�s In Fourth Republican Parliament

The Majority Leader, Mr A.K.S Bagbin is the oldest Member of Parliament in the fourth republic. The National Democratic Congress’s (NDC’s) member for Nadella/Kaleo in the Upper West Region was first voted to represent his constituency then known as the Nadowli North in the first parliament of the fourth republic during the 1992 elections boycotted by the major opposition party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) after it lost the presidential election.

 Methuzela

Since 1992, the Nadowli/Kaleo ‘’Mugabe’’ has been returned to parliament by massive votes even though he had to face other contestants both from within his own party and other parties.

In 1996, Honourable Bagbin brushed aside opposition from the NPP to retain the seat for the NDC.
 

As an ordinary Member of Parliament in 1992, he rose through the ranks of the NDC and by dint of hard work, he was elevated to the position of Minority Leader when the NDC lost the elections to the NPP in 2000. In 2012 when the NDC was returned to power under the late President John Evans Atta Mills, he was named as the Majority Leader.

He has served on several committees of the house namely, the Subsidiary Legislation and Legal and Constitutional Affairs.

Following in his trail is Alhaji Amadu Seidu, the NDC member for Yapei/Kusawgu in the Northern Region. Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Alhaji Amadu however decided not to contest in the 2016 elections. He explained that ‘’there is always time in one’s life to say enough is enough. For 24 years it is enough, I have served my people’’.

 He once served as a deputy Minister for Roads and Highways and also as a deputy Minister for Works and Housing. He served on the Subsidiary Legislation and Constitutional Affairs Committee, Works and Housing, Roads and Highways, Communications Finance, Public Accounts and Government Assurance Committee.

Varied years

For the major opposition party, the NPP, the Minority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, entered the House as a member for Old Tafo Suame in 1996 but now represents Suame when the constituency was split.   

The member for Sekondi, Papa Owusu-Ankomah who has served his people for 20 years declined to contest in the next elections so is also Dr Richard Winfred Anane who joined the House as the representative for Manhyia but now represents Nhyiaeso when the constituency was seperated into two. Professor Dominic Kwaku Fobih, Member of Pariament for Assin South popularly referred to as Assin Mugabe also declined to contest after serving his people for 20 years.

NDC veteran and old horse, Mr E T Mensah entered the House to represent Ningo/Prampram but had his dream of continuing to serve his people truncated when he was whipped in the primary by his own chap, Sam George.

The next in line is Hajia Mary Salifu Boforo, the NDC member for Savelugu, who first served as member for Savelugu/Nanton, a constituency which was also later split into two.

The NDC member for Asutifi South, Alhaji Collins Dauda, also a member of the Consultative Assembly, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chileh, a former Minister of Local Government and Rual Development and Minister of Health and Alhaji Rashid Pelpuo, Wa Central, a former Minister of Youth and Sports and a Deputy Majority Leader and Minister of State in-charge of Public, Private Partnership.

Others are Dominic Azimbe Azumah, who entered the House to represent Garu Tempane until it was split into Garu and Tempane and Cletus Apul Avoka, Zebilla. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Hannah Serwaah Tetteh first served the Effutu-Senya Constituency as Mrs Hannah Tetteh Kpodah and served as the minister of Trade and Industry.The NDC Member for Central Tongu and Minister for Roads and Highways, another long serving member lost the opportunity to represent the party during the primaries in November last year while Gershon K B Gbediame, member for Nkwanta South since 2000 sailed through the primary to contest the 2016 election on the ticket of the NDC. 

Mrs Eugenia Gifty Kusi, then Ms Kusi, joined the house in 2000 as member for Tarkwa/Nsuaem. She would now face stiff oppsition from Kwame Djokoto of the NDC.

Kennedy Ohene Agyapong aka ‘’akom preko’’ also joined the House as member for Assin South then designated as Assin Central. Mr Kobina Tahiru Hammond who represented Adansi /Asokwa in 2000 is now in his 16th year as a member of the House and was a former Energy Minister in the Kufuor regime.

The member for New Edubiase, Madam Mary Eugenia Ghan, served the shortest term in the first parliament of the fourth republic. She died less than one year into the first term in a tragic road accident.

Most changed hands seat           

The Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese Constituency in the Central Region which has been a preserve of the NDC has, however, changed hands from Mrs Cecilia Edu, a member of the Consultative Assembly, to Mr Afful, Mr Halfax Hayford aka ‘’Against’’ for his opposition to the Rawlings’ regime to the current Member of Parliament, Mr Anthony Christian Dadzie.