Dr Rasheed Draman, Executive Director of the Africa Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), announced that a biometric attendance system for Members of Parliament will dramatically reduce absenteeism and improve participation in parliamentary proceedings. The system would tie attendance to each MP’s unique biometric features, making it harder for legislators to register presence without actually being in the Chamber.
Parliament had previously introduced a clocking system to monitor attendance, but it failed to prevent some MPs from signing in without actively engaging in debates. Dr Draman said the biometric approach would address these shortcomings and strengthen Parliament’s oversight, lawmaking and representative functions, which are often hampered when the required quorum is not met.
The proposal follows remarks by Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, who announced plans to introduce a biometric system at the opening of the Third Meeting of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament. The initiative is part of broader efforts to improve discipline and participation in parliamentary business.
Absenteeism has long been a public concern, with repeated reports of low attendance affecting the conduct of business in the House. Parliamentary leaders, governance experts and civil society organisations have repeatedly called for stricter measures to ensure MPs attend sittings, contribute meaningfully to debates, scrutinise government policies and represent their constituents’ interests.
Dr Draman expressed optimism that the biometric system would promote greater accountability among legislators and encourage them to remain committed to their constituents’ and the nation’s interests. The system’s implementation would allow Parliament to accurately monitor attendance and participation levels of MPs while addressing public concerns about lawmakers who fail to attend parliamentary sittings regularly.
