A School Improvement Advisor and a Researcher Mr. Percy Chris Kpodo opined that, Post- Secondary Education must be a requirement for members of Parliament.
According to him, as Ghana continues to strive towards development, it’s prudent to ensure that, our political leaders are educated and equipped to handle the complex issues that face our nation, Ghana.
In a statement, he said, it is unfortunately, not all Members of Parliament (MPs) have the necessary education and training to effectively represent the interests of the Ghanaian people. In this regards, he thinks that, Post-Secondary Education must be a requirement for all Members of Parliament.
He illustrated his point, by sharing a story about a conversation he had with a young man from his constituency, South Tongu in the Volta Region of Ghana.
According to him, the young man had just graduated from University with a degree in economics and was looking for work. When he was asked if he had ever considered running for office, he laughed and said, “Why would I want to do that? I’m not a politician. “I asked him what he meant, and he explained that he didn’t feel qualified to be a politician because he didn’t have the necessary education and experience.” He said.
In narrating an aspect of the inside story, he said, “This conversation stuck with me, and I began to think about the qualifications required to become a Member of Parliament. Currently, the only requirements are that the candidate must be at least 21 years old and a citizen of Ghana. While these requirements are important, they do not ensure that our MPs are equipped to handle the complex issues facing our nation.”
Percy Chris Kpodo reiteratd that, Post-Secondary Education should be a requirement for all MPs. This, he believes would ensure that our political leaders are knowledgeable and skilled, capable of understanding complex issues and making informed decisions. It would also encourage lifelong learning and promote diversity among our elected officials.
He acknowledged diverse opinions of others saying “Of course, some argue that education is not the only measure of a person’s ability to serve as an effective MP. They point to examples of successful politicians who did not have Post-Secondary Education, but who nevertheless made significant contributions to their communities and their country.”
While this is true, he believes that it is essential that high standard is set for our elected officials, and require that they have the education and training necessary to represent the interests of the Ghanaian people.
In conclusion, Percy Chris Kpodo explained that, Post-Secondary Education must be a requirement for all Members of Parliament. It is only by ensuring that our political leaders are educated and equipped to handle the complex issues facing our nation that we can truly build a brighter future for all Ghanaians.
Mr Kpodo Percy Chris also call for urgent amendment of Article 94 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
Percy Chris Kpodo said this in support of the Deputy Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin who earlier made similar call for a review of Article 94 of the 1992 constitution, advocating that Post-Secondary Education be made a criterion for aspiring Members of Parliament.
Afenyo-Markin argued that, many members of the public have criticized various happenings in Parliament, including the quality of debates that take place on the floor.
The MP believes that requiring post-secondary education for those seeking election to Parliament would improve the caliber of individuals elected to the position.
SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh
