MP for Bantama constituency in the Ashanti region has stepped up a defence in the face of mounting opposition to Parliament’s plans for a new 450-seater chamber.
“Democracy is never cheap,” Daniel Okyem Aboagye said on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show Wednesday after listening to an opposition MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa call the plan needless.
The Bantama MP explained, upping the seats by 175 more is a step in the right direction because the current 275 seats are unfairly distributed.
He said it is not fair representation for an MP to enter parliament with a constituency of some 5,000 voters while another comes in with over 100,000 voters.
Yet the disbursement of the common fund is done equally across constituencies without any consideration for the size of the population.
Since it will be difficult to merge constituencies, breaking up larger ones will eventually require the creation of more seats, he argued.
MPs in Ghana take home ¢9,000 after taxes and are given at least $80,000 each in a state-guaranteed car loan. They also have a ¢90,000 rent allowance. After each term, MPs take an ex-gratia. In the last payment in 2012, returning MPs collected ¢276,000 while exiting MPs took ¢311,000.
A new seat can cost the taxpayer at least ¢798,000 in salaries, rent allowance and ex-gratia by the end of a four-year term. That means 175 more seats can bring the bill to at least ¢139.6m a parliamentary term, all things being equal
But “diametrically opposed” to the new plan, North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto observed the plan will only balloon government bureaucracy.
He called for a cap on Parliamentary seats and put his preference at 200 parliamentarians.
Instead of building a spectacular new chamber, monies should be invested in funding the recruitment of researchers to improve the MP’s contribution to debates and bill considerations. He said prioritising this is an inevitably “wonderful opportunity for job creation.”
The monies could also be used to construct “cute” offices for MPs in their constituencies to help deepen interaction with the electorate. He said such a project is line with best practice in democratic countries.
The North Tongu MP expressed doubts on the involvement of MPs in the decision to construct a new chamber. He said he was not consulted and is yet to see the design outdoored by the Speaker of Parliament last week.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa called the fair representation argument by the Bantama MP a “post facto rationalisation.”
Source: myjoyonline.com
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It seems NPP does not value the power they have. Power blinds and that is what is happening right in front of our eyes. This is a very unpopular decision and I want Nana Addo to come out and condemn it. Even the number of seats now is way too much. What is it that NPP cannot realize that in spite of the many laudable policies they've put in place it will take time for them to materialize and as such they should not be making any mistakes that would come to bite the party and country.
I have regretted ever voting for nana addo. It looks as if he has taken our 1m votes against mahama for granted. As far I am concerned, I voted for him because I thought he was wiser than John Mahama, but from the looks of things the opposite is the case. He seems to be more interested in winning the next election than help solve the myriad problems confronting Ghanaians. First was national cathedral and now new parliament building. I was watching some video about roads in ashanti region, your stronghold, it was so terrible yet you and your mps are thinking about more seats instead of solving problems of the masses. As for this it would be better we bring back mahama.
Your mother's something something! Democracy is not cheap, it is meant for only fuuulls like you who wants to use all our resources for themselves alone whiles others suffer. Every wise person who vote does so thinking that our representatives will go and fight for roads, hospitals, water, electricity, food and services, security and welfare. We don't for you to go and ask for salary increment let alone go and ask for expansion of parliament house or creation of more constituencies for your parochial interest. Ghana parliament is the most use.less institution we have currently.
When Potent Leaders are building Brand New Legon Medical Hospital, Ridge Hospital, Brand New Secondary Schools E blocks, Brand new Power Plants, Brand New Circle Dubai for to the benefits all Ghanaians, Gratifying to note that The INCOMPETENT and IMPOTENT LEADERS are building Cathedral, and Parliament House and EmPloying Over 140 impotent Ministers as parasitic being on my tax Money. Clandestinely and dupiously attempted to buy bloated Oslo Chancery/embassy. For the records the said loan for the 450 parliament house is coming from India, nokofio, Papa Ajasco as a speaker is working something small for the son as ambassador in India. #vote against Impotent leadership.
Your face even says it all.......another politically brain-washed incorrect apology of a human being!!!
Must you defend every issue because of political leniage. What is bad is bad. The NPP is becoming unpopular because of some of these policy decisions. Look at how the fonancial cleaning is being handled. You people must learn if you intend to win the next election.
Another iddi00too talking