The member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, contributing to the current issues relating to Ghana’s economic hardship states that, the emoluments of the Article 71 of the 1992 constitution needs an urgent and a major repair.
The renowned MP added that, if the state cannot from her coffers provide duty vehicles for MPs to work with, the executive branch of the government, should allow the MPs arrange for their private loans to purchase cars.
“I have long held the view that the entire Article 71 emoluments regime is in urgent need of a major overhaul.
We need to demolish this apartheid superstructure and create a new conditions of service framework for public officials which are more equitable, transparent, justifiable and acceptable to the people who employ us.
As MPs, let us also boldly confront and discontinue the practice of government loans to purchase vehicles for MPs.
If the executive branch of government does not have the resources to provide duty vehicles for MPs as it does for MMDCEs, CEOs of State Institutions/SOEs, Ministers, Judges, Civil Servants, Security Services, and so on and so forth, then MPs who need car loans should be allowed to make their own private car loan arrangements with the banks just as most private sector workers do.
This will simply require that government stop the monthly deductions from MP’s salaries so we will be free to go in for individual car loan deals based on our salary structure, constituency terrain and other personal preferences.
I honestly hope many colleague MPs will agree with me so we join forces and get Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to withdraw his MP’s car loan agreement from Parliament. MPs have been deliberately thrown under the bus and subjected to needless opprobrium one too many.
Fortunately, Rt. Hon. Speaker Bagbin has been a long time advocate for a uniform duty vehicle policy in the public sphere which does not discriminate between Ministers, MMDCEs, CEOs, Judges and MPs — I strongly believe we can count on his support as we pursue this mission.
Deep reflection is needed on just how long the political class can keep stoking the anger levels of the masses beyond boiling point? We must not underestimate the people’s grave revulsion and its volcanic consequences on the stability and sustainability of our democracy.
