MPs Spend Gh¢500k On Campaign … But Earn Gh¢336,000 In Salaries After 4 Years

24.05.2016 LISTEN

By Bernice Bessey

It is an undeniable fact that campaign for entry into Parliament in our part of the world is very expensive, but as to why an MP in Ghana would splurge a whopping GH500,000 on campaign, only to earn a meager GH360,000 in salaries for years, is a Gordian Knot the Majority Chief Whip in Parliament, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak has invited the public to untie.

MPs in Ghana earn a little over GH7,000 a month and GH360,000 in the four years that they would spend in Parliament, but according to Alhaji Muntaka, most of the MPs do not spend less than GH500,000 in their campaigns for an election into the August House.

This leaves the MPs with a deficit of GH164, 000, (1.64 billion cedis), but the Majority Chief Whip did not tell how this gaping hole is plugged at the end of their tenure of office.

He, however, pointed out that because of this astronomical money that they spend on campaign, over 90 MPs have lost their seats to those who were able to pay the constituency party executives and followers.

Currently, he stressed, Parliament could only boast of 10 MPs who have served the House since 1992, 10 since 1997, 17 serving from 2001 up to date and 40 from 2005 to 2016.

Most of the aforementioned MPs, he continued, might not be in position to retain their seats after the November election.

According to the Asawasi MP, the development is weighing majority of the MPs down and that instead of them focusing on their primary function of making laws and lobbying for developmental projects for their constituencies, they rather think about how to raise funds to win the next elections. This practice, he lamented, is not healthy for the country's young democracy.

Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak made the statement whilst launching a Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) sponsored research dubbed -“Voter Expectations of MPs in Ghanaian Constituencies with high incidence of poverty”, at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Accra yesterday.

It formed part of a 2-day Enhancing Knowledge for Renewed Policies against Poverty (NOPOOR) research project policy dissemination conference, which was attended by representatives from 19 institutions across the globe.

He called on the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to intensify their role to ensure that citizens understand the functions of the law maker, saying “it is rather unfortunate that the people know the role of an MP but refuse to accept it. They think the MP has the responsibility to directly support individuals monetarily.”

Briefing the participant about the findings of the research, Regina Tetteh of Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), said the survey was conducted in 10 selected constituencies in the country.

According to her, 44 percent of Ghanaians interviewed, claimed to be interested in public affairs, 29% somehow interested and only 8% are not interested in public affairs.

She further indicated that 28% of the number think their MPs have a responsibility to directly support individuals monetarily in paying loans, fees and given gifts.

The Director General for Nation Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Dr. Nii Noi Thompson said the 40 year development policy framework that had been initiated by the commission would address issues in the health sector, industry, economy and community planning among others.

He added that the policy framework would enable the country to fit into global economy, adding “if you are thinking 40 years is too long, remember the person who will be present by that time is already born, so the future is already here.”