Executive Director of African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr Rasheed Dramani has called on the Speaker of Parliament to "crack the whip" and put a stop to political boycott, walkouts, and absenteeism.

Dr. Rasheed Dramani stated that when these boycotts happen, it effectively means that the voice of constituents of the MPs are not represented in Parliament.

“The kind of political boycotts we have seen and walkout, 14 of them or so by the NDC, but we have seen a lot of boycotting of citizens if you like because if my Member of Parliament does not show up in the House to work, it means I am not being represented and we have seen this several times in the 7th parliament".

He further suggested that a strict rule should be implemented to address these acts, and in addition, sanctions laid on Members of Parliament (MP) who flout these rules to serve as a deterrent to others.

Ghana's 7th Parliament has witnessed a number of boycotts during parliamentary sittings.

It will be recalled that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) staged a walkout during a special sitting to approve the 2020 budget estimates of the Electoral Commission of Ghana.

The Minority’s action followed their demand on the EC to furnish Parliament with documents that justified its request for over GH¢1b for the purposes of compiling a new voters’ register for the 2020 elections.

Also, in 2013, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) also staged a walkout when President Mahama was about to deliver his maiden State of the Nation Address.

The NPP boycotted the sessional address carrying placards with the inscription stealers in support of their flagbearer Nana Akufo-Addo and two others challenging the legitimacy of the president.

Dr Dramani cited cases in other countries where standing orders in Parliament make it such that if an MP absents himself for a number of days successively some sanctions kick in.

"In some Parliaments, if you don’t show up you lose some privileges."

Going forward, he suggested that the standing orders of Parliament be reviewed to address these concerns.