Ayawaso Central MP, Henry Quartey has expressed concern over the departure of experienced MPs from the country's legislative body.

He highlighted the potential impact their exit could have on the parliamentary landscape, emphasising the significant role played by seasoned legislators.

He specifically singled out the outgoing Suame MP, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu's contribution to the country's development.

Mr Quartey stressed that the departure of these experienced MPs poses a challenge to the continuity and effectiveness of parliamentary proceedings.

“Ordinarily, it would have been a good thing to do because of the rate of attrition in Parliament. MPs doing their first and second terms and leaving Parliament does not help the parliamentary practice and when you look at other jurisdictions, you will notice that some people have been there [in Parliament] for 30 years or more and when you look at the performance of Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, it tells you that you learn on the job and that is what the country needs.”

Nevertheless, he insisted that the New Patriotic Party embraces competition, and this was evident during the party's parliamentary primaries held on Saturday, January 27.

“Having said that, the NPP believes that there should be competition and I want to commend the national executives for allowing a contest. It was decided at the national council that everyone should be allowed to contest and that nobody should impose a candidate on anybody because we are not in normal times and when you impose a candidate, we are likely to come to Parliament with some 60 or 70 MPs because the people will go and vote against the party’s choice, or you have a lot of independent candidates emerging."

“But when the people are allowed to make their own choices, they are happy, and so they will come on board with that energy and vote for that person and to campaign for that person,” he said.