Why Prof. Kingsley Nyarko is a Promising First Time MP and a Good Asset to the NPP

The Eight Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana has unique qualities that set it aside from all the previous Parliaments.

Aside from having equal numbers of Members of Parliament (137) as well as equal numbers of female MPs (20) for each of the two main rival political parties (NPP and NDC), with an independent candidate tilting the majority scale towards the Governing party by electing to do business with the NPP; it has also been blessed with some fantastic new entrants to the Legislative arena.

In this article, I want to highlight the Member of Parliament for the Kwadaso Constituency in the Ashanti region, Prof. Kingsley Nyarko, as one of these group of promising new Members of Parliament who deserve another term in office based on their demonstrated output and dedication to their Parliamentary duties. I will first of all proceed on the premise that he has received top recommendations from seasoned Members of Parliament for his work.

Before he became a Member of Parliament in January 2021, Professor Kingsley Nyarko was a Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana, played the Executive Secretary role at the National Accreditation Board, and held the Executive Directorship position of the Danquah Institute.

Commendations by Experienced Legislators.

This first-time Member of Parliament from the fold of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) is fast becoming a toast to the connoisseurs of Parliamentary democracy. The latest endorsement came from the Rt. Hon. Speaker Alban Bagbin himself.

I remember On Wednesday, July 5, 2023, the Speaker acknowledged the leadership qualities of the Kwadaso MP when he moved from the back bench to assist with the leadership roles of his front bench in the absence of the substantive leaders. And this was not the first time he had naturally stepped into the leadership space and been eagerly urged on by his colleagues.

On two other occasions, the Speaker has had to commend the Kwadaso MP for his meticulousness and prolifically in his Parliamentary duties even as a first-time MP. He is one of the first-time MPs who has shown huge promise of staying focused on his Parliamentary duties and taking time to learn the ropes very quickly. He seems to have stricken the right chords and has caught the attention of the experienced Parliamentarians.

The Member of Parliament for Tamale South and immediate past Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, openly commended Professor Kingsley Nyarko on the Floor for his active participation in the activities of the House. Noting that he is one of the few first-timers who care to pay attention to the Votes and Proceedings of the House and is constantly found on his feet to effect one correction or the other at the start of Parliamentary work.

Excellence in Parliamentary Duties on the Floor

He has not relented on his oversight duties over the Executive even though he is a member of the Governing party. He has caused many Ministers of State to be hauled before Parliament to account for their stewardship through the many Parliamentary questions he filed during the period concerning matters relating directly to his constituency or pertinent national issues.

As a good academic researcher, he has succeeded in making some important statements on the Floor on relevant subjects that require national attention such as his statements on “the Growing Concern for the need to take the English Language Proficiency Test”; and “Ghana’s presence on the United Nations Security Council: Prospect in Promoting Peace and Security within the Sub-region”; and the “International Day of Women and Girls in Science” among others that were made on the Floor of the House on February 3, February 10, and February 11, 2022, respectively.

As a former lecturer, he has impacted the law-making process with varied perspectives owing to his academic prowess and good debating skills which were exhibited in his debate on the message of the State of the Nation Address in April 2022, and on the Budget Statement in December 2023.

The Need to Replace retiring MPs with Promising ones

In the wake of the news that as many as 18 incumbent Members of Parliament of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have decided not to return to Parliament, these rare Parliamentary Leadership qualities which could be identified in the MP for Kwadaso becomes even more important at this time for the Party going into the next Parliament.

Some very senior Members of the party and experienced Legislators who have played major roles in the governing party and the Leadership bench in Parliament on behalf of the party including the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, have declared their intention not to go for re-election in the impending party Parliamentary primaries.

This will undoubtedly affect the general output of the 9th Parliament given that the main counterpart opposition party in Parliament, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has also lost about 18 incumbent MPs through their party primaries.

However, the NPP is likely to be impacted more in the next Parliament because their side is shedding more experienced MPs as compared to their NDC counterparts as far as the confirmed list of incumbent MPs not going to participate in the 2024 Parliamentary election before the NPP parliamentary primaries are concerned. The least of these MPs have served at least two terms in office.

This is why I think, the New Patriotic Party in Kwadaso should ensure that it puts its best foot forward by presenting the incumbent MP, Professor Kingsley Nyarko, who has shown promise of excellence for a possible second term in office to stand a good chance of being among the leadership front in the next Parliament.

This is because his reelection may come with benefits that could accrue to the constituency when their representative is part of the leadership structure in Parliament. The developmental concerns of such privileged constituencies do get priority attention from the Executive branch.

By Clement Akoloh,
Editor, Parliamentnews360.com
Senior Member, Parliamentary Press Corps.

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