Common Sense Missing in Parliament is no longer a joke; it is the unofficial Order Paper item that somehow never gets tabled, debated, or voted on. On an otherwise ordinary sitting day, something truly historic went missing in the House.

Not a revolutionary bill. Not a landmark ruling. Not even a punctual start time. No, something far rarer vanished into thin air: Common Sense.

It started like all national emergencies do quietly. A motion was tabled, tempers warmed up faster than the microphones, and within minutes Honourable Members were passionately debating everything except the issue on the Order Paper. Somewhere between “point of information” and “on a more serious note, Mr. Speaker,” Common Sense Missing in Parliament became the day’s real agenda, as Common Sense quietly packed its bags and slipped out through the side door.

Common Sense Missing in Parliament: The Search for the Missing Item

At first, no one noticed. Because when you misplace something you rarely use, its absence doesn’t ring any alarm bells. But soon, the symptoms were hard to ignore:

• Questions that required facts were answered with slogans.
• Genuine concerns from citizens were treated like heckling from the cheap seats.
• “Accountability” was pronounced with the same difficulty as a complicated foreign surname.

A concerned usher whispered: “Honourables, it appears Common Sense is missing.” The House responded by setting up a bipartisan committee to investigate. Naturally, this committee was generously resourced with sitting allowances, per diems, and a mandate to deliver a report after the next election cycle. For context, similar democratic eyebrow-raisers repeatedly make international headlines (see the BBC’s Africa coverage).

Where They Looked (and Carefully Didn’t)

The committee’s preliminary findings were impressive:

1. The VIP Car Park: No trace of Common Sense. Just fuel coupons.
2. The Cafeteria: Only found subsidised lunch and unsubsidised egos.
3. The Chamber: Microphones working, logic missing.
4. Public Gallery: Citizens spotted clutching Common Sense tightly. They feared if they dropped it, it would be declared state property.

Confronted with this failure, the House did what any self-respecting institution would do: blame social media. “Our integrity is intact,” they insisted, “it is perception that is misbehaving.” Naturally, they did not consider the possibility that perception was simply reading the Hansard or the
Parliament of Ghana’s own records.

The Things Common Sense Would Have Said

If Common Sense had been allowed a speaking time of just five minutes, it might have suggested:

• That public office is a stewardship, not a personal investment portfolio.
• That people who walk to the polling station deserve leaders who can walk through a budget.
• That shouting “Point of Order!” is not a development policy.
• That transparency is cheaper than scandal.

But alas, Common Sense had no lobbyist, no caucus, no protective standing orders. It remains outside the Chamber, mingling with market women, trotro drivers, nurses on night shift, techies building startups, and teachers stretching salaries. The irony? The people who have the least say in Parliament are using Common Sense the most. That’s why we keep asking: why is Common Sense Missing in Parliament when it is so abundant on the streets?

Breaking News: Possible Sighting

Reports indicate that Common Sense was last seen loitering near the
Republic of Uncommon Sense newsroom, sipping sobolo and filing op-eds. It allegedly refused an invitation to appear before the House until members agree to:

• Read the bills they vote on.
• Explain decisions to the people who pay their salaries.
• Debate issues with data, not decibels.
• Remember that “Honourable” is a job description, not a costume.

Until that day, Ghana’s most important missing item will remain exactly where it is: with ordinary citizens who, despite everything, still know foolishness when they see it. And until we stop finding Common Sense Missing in Parliament, the Republic will continue outsourcing its wisdom to market women and trotro mates.