Executive Director of the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), Rasheed Draman, has indicated that the newly introduced Standing Orders in parliament  is a response to the challenges of absenteeism and the lack of quorum experienced during sessions.

In an interview with TV3 he stated that the roll call is positioned as a crucial tool to promote transparency and curb absenteeism, ultimately contributing to the overall integrity of parliamentary proceedings.

He stated that under this approach, the roll is called, requiring every member to respond.

According to him in cases where a member is absent, the standing orders permit the transfer of voting rights to another member on matters before the house.

... the roll is called and everybody has to respond and if you are not there eerrm, whoever for instance the standing orders is allowed for you to give your vote to somebody on a matter that is before the house all those are mentioned during the roll call," he added.

Rasheed Draman emphasized the significance of addressing these issues during the roll call, providing a systematic method to manage the challenges faced by the parliamentary body.

Mr Draman expressed the frustration associated with absenteeism and the repercussions of inadequate quorum in parliamentary proceedings.

He advocated for a consistent adherence to the roll call, acknowledging that while it may be time-consuming to mention the names of all 275 members, the benefits of bringing order and accountability to the house outweigh the time investment.

"Look we have been dealing with this issue of absenteeism and the frustrations with lack of quorum in the house over the days. If I am to advise the right honorable Speaker I will say let's stick to this roll call because I mean it might take time but I guess mentioning the names of 275 members will take more than 15 to 20 minutes doing that will bring sanity to the house," he stated.

As the new Standing Orders come into effect, they aim to instill discipline and responsibility among parliamentarians, ensuring that the house functions efficiently and effectively.

On Tuesday, February 6, a notable change took effect in parliamentary proceedings as members kicked off sessions by reciting the National Pledge.

New Parliamentary Standing Orders: The roll call will address issues of absenteeism. - Rasheed Draman, Exec Dir, ACEPA#GhanaTonight pic.twitter.com/IYguEi8R9Z— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) February 7, 2024