Ghanaian politician and academician Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa attacked Members of Parliament (MPs) following a recent decision to pay every MP Ghc 150,000 to monitor Ghc 200,000 project funds in their constituencies.
Speaking during a series of public lectures held at the University of Education, Winneba, Professor Akosa excoriated the ‘people’s representatives’ for lining their pockets with money while ordinary Ghanaians suffer.
Akosa admonished the political class for their failures, which he argued have made it difficult for the common man to fulfil his dreams in this country.
Professor Akosa made these remarks with a Member of Parliament, the Honourable Clement Abas Apaak, MP for Builsa South in the Upper West Region, and the Deputy Minister for Education in the audience.
“Nobody is prepared to help anybody; everybody is prepared to help themselves. I know Honourable (Apaak) is here, but let me say something: last Friday, Parliament gave to every Parliamentarian Ghc 200,000 for GETFUND project and gave them an additional Ghc 150,000 to monitor projects,” Professor Akosa said. “There is nowhere in this world that you are given 75% of what you are given to monitor the project. Nowhere!”
Akosa slammed the MPs for ‘keeping quiet’ and accepting such a gratuitous percentage of the project funds simply for ‘monitoring’ purposes. He noted these outrageous sums are being given to them on top of what they receive in ex gratia, car loans and the many other benefits of service they receive as Members of Parliament.
“Parliamentarians all kept quiet; they got the money, they got their ex gratia, and they got their car loan. That’s it. These are the people’s representatives!” Akosa fumed. “Meanwhile the people are choking to death. So please, our representatives, look back, think about us, and let’s all together move this country forward.”
