Outgoing Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, has expressed concerns over the growing number of young and inexperienced MPs being elected to the Parliament of Ghana.

In an interview on From the start with Raymond Acquah, he recognized the potential of young legislators but stressed the importance of retaining experienced MPs to maintain the quality of parliamentary debate and governance.

Reflecting on the change in parliamentary composition, Mr Appiah-Kubi said: “Now we have young MPs, sometimes inexperienced, and then a mixed balance.

“We cannot say that because they are young, they are inexperienced. Nor can we say that because they are young, they are incapable.”

While acknowledging that some young parliamentarians perform exceptionally well, Mr Appiah-Kubi stressed that experience plays a vital role in parliamentary performance:

“We can see young, bright people coming in and doing even better than experienced people. But it would be better if we retained more experienced people.”

For Mr Appiah-Kubi, the essence of parliament lies in vigorous debate – a skill he says often requires experience:

“Parliament is about debate. The debate is between the majority and the minority. Even gaining the confidence to stand up and attract attention is not easy.

He described the unique pressures of speaking in Parliament, where the stakes are much higher than casual conversations.

“Parliament is not an ordinary platform where you can talk to your friends. When you rise at the request of the President, you address the Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana.

“So it takes a certain courage, an understanding of parliamentary procedure and a mastery of the issues you raise.”

The outgoing MP highlighted how the absence of seasoned lawmakers weakens parliamentary discourse, as less experienced MPs may struggle to articulate their arguments effectively or lack the procedural knowledge needed to influence decisions.

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