MPs' Behavior Worse In Last Three Years - Akoto Osei

The behavior of Members of Parliament has sunk to an all time low in the last two to three years MP for Old Tafo has said. Anthony Akoto Osei made the concession on the floor of Parliament while discussing an ethical code of conduct to regulate their behavior both in Parliament and outside Parliament. "The last two or three years have seen the worse behavior among all of us," he said, adding, "that is why I don't blame the public when they hold us the way they do." "Sometimes I cry when I hear words coming from the so-called us honorable MPs," he said while still lamenting the sad and unfair conditions under which MPs work. The MPs are contemplating a possible adoption of a code, Joy News' Parliamentary correspondent Elton John Brobbey reported. The code seeks to maintain the integrity of Parliament and promote high ethical standards of members. The code amongst other issues spells out how much worth of gift an MP is expected to take. Elton Brobbey said the purpose of the code is to assist MPs in the discharge of the duties to the state, Parliament, their constituents, and the public at large. The code would not regulate the conduct of the private lives of the MPs except such conducts significantly damages the reputation of the MP and the House. The MPs also wanted the code to capture the conditions of service so that constituents will be aware of their salaries and not over burden them with other financial obligations. MP for Sekondi Paapa Owusu Ankamah told Joy News the code will enable both the MPs and the public judge the conduct of MPs. He cited an instance where a Committee wrote to an organisation for support, stating, "so far as there was no guide, nobody could fault them," he indicated. "What we are seeking to do is to start a process which will enable us measure our conduct and let the public measure the conduct of MPs," he stated. Majority Chief Whip Muntaka Mohammed in contributing to the discussion on the floor and later to Joy News also proposed that there has to be a cap as to how much gift an MP is allowed to take. He is of the opinion that MPs must not be allowed to take a gift worth more than 500 cedis in cash or in value. "If you don't check the value it will tempt [people] and it will be confusing," he stated. Meanwhile, sanctions and procedures for investigating complaints are still being discussed by the adhoc committee of Parliament.