Akim Abuakwa South legislator Samuel Atta Akyea expressed his objection to the idea of forcing MPs to resign solely because they announce future political ambitions.
He emphasized that lawmakers shouldn’t be viewed as “robots” who are incapable of thinking through their future political choices or altering their ideas in an impassioned debate on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, October 15.
Following debates in Parliament on several Members of Parliament who have announced their desire to run as independents in the 2024 parliamentary elections, Atta Akyea made his remarks.
The private attorney contended that MPs ought to be permitted to state their future goals without it impairing their current standing and that such statements do not amount to stepping over the political carpet.
“The issue here is that these MPs are addressing their future intentions. They’ve not said that as of now they want to abandon where they are for any other direction,” Atta Akyea explained, referencing the Second Deputy Speaker’s announcement of future plans.
“Should it affect my current status if I declare my intentions for the future? I’ve not said now I’m crossing to another party.”
For Atta Akyea, it is important to make a clear distinction between present commitments and future aspirations.
“What we are saying now is that they are not crossing the carpet yet. They are not saying that in this Parliament, they were sponsored by the NPP or came in as independents and now want to go to another party or stand as independents.”
He was adamantly against the idea that MPs should lose their seats as a direct result of their future intentions, comparing it to treating MPs like mindless animals.
“If not, then we are reducing the members of Parliament to robots. They can’t think, they can’t change their minds,” he warned.
Atta Akyea also pointed out that intentions can change, and it is unreasonable to pre-emptively judge MPs based on a future possibility. “What if what they want to do, they change their minds about? Is Parliament going to declare on the thinking and feelings of MPs? That’s the problem I have,” he said, emphasizing the need for flexibility in politics and decision-making.
