The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin announced on Tuesday plans to fully implement a biometric attendance system to improve the monitoring and recording of Members of Parliament’s (MPs) attendance during sittings of the House.
The initiative, according to the Speaker, forms part of a broader effort by the Parliamentary Service to modernise its administrative and technological operations and improve efficiency, transparency and accountability in parliamentary proceedings.
Under the proposed arrangement, MPs will be required to record their presence using designated biometric consoles instead of signing the traditional attendance register.
Bagbin said the system would provide accurate, reliable and verifiable records of members’ participation in parliamentary sittings, helping to strengthen the processes used to monitor attendance.
Addressing Parliament on November 3, the Speaker explained that the move was necessary to ensure that Parliament keeps pace with technological advancements and responds to growing demands for efficiency in the conduct of public business.
“Our Parliament must keep pace with the rapid advancement of technology and the growing demand for efficiency, transparency and accountability in the conduct of political business. During this meeting, the Parliamentary Service will roll out a number of administrative and technological upgrades to improve the efficiency, accuracy and effectiveness of our proceedings.
“First, we intend to fully implement the biometric attendance system to ensure accurate, reliable and verifiable records of members’ attendance at sittings of the House.
“Under this arrangement, members will be required to register their attendance through the designated biometric console. Consequently, the traditional attendance register will no longer be circulated for signature.” Enditem
