Why there are Many First time MPs in Ghana's Parliament – Minority Leader explains

Haruna Iddrisu says, MPs carry a lot of burden from the people in their constituencies, failure of which, may cause one to lose his or her seat

Why there are Many First time MPs in Ghana's Parliament – Minority Leader explains
Haruna Iddrisu

The Minority Leader in Ghana's Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu, says the country’s legislative body is filled with fresh lawmakers because of the high expectations heaped  on Members of Parliament (MP), by people in their constituencies.

According to him, MPs unfortunately take on additional responsibities, due to the gap and failure of Local Government Authorities

He noted that, since there are low levels of development, aspiring MPs are compelled to make 'certain' promises they cannot keep when they gain power, forcing the impatient electorates to kick them out.

“Development actors like government, ministries, district assemblies have failed to reflect the views and aspirations of the people. So often times members of Parliament are forced to make promises they cannot keep and they tend to suffer the frustrations of the people,” he said on GBC News’ current affairs programme, Focus.

 

READ ALSO:
I will retire from active politics in 2025 – Majority Leader

 

Haruna Iddrisu bemoaned the financial burdens MPs incur from their constituencies after winning power.

He argued that, sometimes, carrying such burden, is the only ticket to securing the people’s votes. This he said, could trigger corruption, since some legislators will want to by all means meet the people’s demands,

, “In Ghana, corruption is driven by the everyday need, the demands on that outdooring, the funeral, that uncompleted house …. how is the MP going to do that from his income?

“So, when he gets that opportunity, he is likely to abuse the process to satisfy that need because that need is the source of his legitimacy” he noted.

The Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu had earlier raised concerns about parliament continuously losing Experienced MPs to fresh ones.

“Building the capacity of a Member of Parliament is not a four-year matter; it is not even an eight-year matter. The axiom is that in parliament, the longer a person stays the better he becomes,” he said in an interview with TV3, on June 22.

He said the continuous loss of experienced MPs will affect parliamentary work, and consequently, governance.

According to the Majority leader, a legislators’ term, especially experienced ones in parliament, should be guarded.