Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has downplayed the effectiveness of pay cuts for political appointees as the solution to #FixTheEconomy.

According to him, a slash in politicians’ salaries will amount to nothing significant to address the numerous challenges confronting the nation.

He told host Evans Mensah on Joy News’ PM Express Tuesday, that such a demand, if considered, must be broadened to cover all public sector workers and not just elected government officials.

“We should look at the (issue of pay cut) generally. If we limit the issue to only elected officers, we will not achieve much.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI0fpaF6Huk

As part of the demands of the #FixTheCountry Movement, the protestors want political leaders to have their salaries and other benefits borne by the taxpayers slashed.

According to the campaigners, the economic hardship confronting the ordinary Ghanaian is really biting so their elected representatives must be the first to experience a pay cut.

Also, government in its 2021 budget statement to Parliament called on citizens to bear part of the burden imposed on the economy by Covid-19 pandemic.

The protesters say their leaders must fulfill their part of the bargain.

The Effutu MP bemoaned the enormity of the demands from their constituents as compared to the emoluments of the legislators.

He believes a pay cut policy will further impoverish the politicians, thus may not be able to perform basic responsibilities in their respective constituencies.

Mr Afenyo-Markin however indicated that Ghanaian politicians should be able to forgo privileges that amount to luxury.

But he was quick to add that, the move will mean that politicians would forfeit their ability to serve the constituents well.

The Deputy Majority Leader said the agitations from Ghanaians in respect of economic hardships is legitimate and explained that government’s inability to communicate the real challenges to the citizens may have fueled the anxiety.

He, nonetheless, assured the citizenry that government is taking appropriate measures to alleviate their burdens.