The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has announced that a biometric attendance system will be fully implemented to enhance the monitoring and recording of Members of Parliament’s (MPs) attendance during House sittings. This initiative is part of a larger effort by the Parliamentary Service to modernise its administrative and technological processes, aiming to boost efficiency, transparency, and accountability in parliamentary affairs.
Under the new system, MPs will register their attendance using designated biometric consoles, replacing the traditional practice of signing an attendance register. According to Bagbin, the biometric system will deliver accurate, reliable, and verifiable records of MPs’ participation, thereby strengthening attendance monitoring procedures.
Addressing Parliament on November 3, the Speaker stated that this upgrade is essential for Parliament to stay abreast of technological developments and to meet rising expectations for efficiency in public business. “Our Parliament must keep up with rapid technological advancements and increased demands for efficiency, transparency, and accountability in our political processes.
During this session, the Parliamentary Service will introduce several administrative and technological improvements to enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and effectiveness of our proceedings. The first major step is the full implementation of the biometric attendance system to guarantee precise and dependable attendance records for House sittings. Members will now be required to use the designated biometric consoles to register their attendance, and the traditional attendance register will be discontinued.”
