The Member of Parliament for Mpraeso, Davis Ansah Opoku, has warned of an impending governance crisis exacerbated by high attrition rates in Ghana's Parliament.

Addressing his colleagues in Parliament, Mr. Opoku pointed out that only 10 out of 169 Members of Parliament (MPs) from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) retained their seats between the 7th and 9th Parliaments, a trend that he argues threatens the stability and effectiveness of the legislature.

“This level of turnover severely undermines both the stability and quality of our democracy,” he remarked, calling for swift reforms to address the situation.

Mr. Opoku attributed the high attrition rates to factors such as the rising costs of campaigning, inadequate enforcement of the Political Parties Act, divisive primaries, and unrealistic public expectations placed on MPs.

He proposed a multi-pronged approach, including public funding for political parties, stricter financial disclosure requirements, and reforms to the candidate selection process.

“Our democracy hinges on a stable, experienced Parliament. Without immediate reforms, the very foundation of our governance system will be at risk,” he concluded.