By Elsie Appiah-Osei
Accra, June 10, GNA- Mr Patrick Boamah, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Okaikwei Central, has called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to urgently brief Parliament on issues affecting Ghanaians in South Africa.
He warned that lawmakers could not rely on social media for matters of national importance.
Speaking to journalists in Parliament House on Wednesday, Mr Boamah said the standard parliamentary process for obtaining ministerial responses was often too slow for urgent diplomatic matters that could impact Ghana’s relations with South Africa.
The MP cautioned against delays, stressing that Parliament must act before the situation escalated.
“Are we going to wait till the unfortunate happens, that diplomatic relationship between South Africa and us is severed? No, we don’t want that to happen,” he stated.
Mr Boamah criticised the minister’s alleged reliance on X formerly Twitter and other social platforms for updates, arguing that Parliament, not social media, was the proper forum for accountability.
“So if the minister is in a country, like he always rushes to the House to brief us on visas and what have you, he should come to the floor. He should stop tweeting and posting. We are the people’s representatives,” he said.
The Okaikwei Central legislator noted that MPs have a duty to support constituents, including those living overseas.
“The people in South Africa, they have representatives in the chamber. If the person is from Takoradi, it’s the person’s MP. If the person is from Abeka, it’s the person’s MP,” he noted.
According to Mr Boamah, a direct briefing would enable Parliament to engage affected constituents and contribute to resolving challenges facing Ghanaians in South Africa.
“So we will find a way to even reach out to our constituents out there to help solve some of the matters that we are being confronted with,” he added.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Elsie Appiah-Osei, GNA