MP for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo Markin says the financial situation of former MPs disproves a popular perception that MPs are corrupt.

Short of examples, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP said he has seen former colleagues who 15 years later are having a hard time making ends meet let alone flaunting a wealthy lifestyle.

He was reacting to an NCCE research which found that about 90% of 2,910 respondents think that MPs are corrupt. The report also said 48% of respondents believe Ghana MPs are doing an average job. A less flattering result, 15.4% of respondents rated parliamentarians as performing a below average.

The lawyer would not shield any politician from being susceptible to corruption because he said this perception was popular “if you walk around town”.

To the charge of political office holders being corrupt, Afenyo Markin said ' I do concede'.

However, he offered an exception to MPs, saying that material possession of MPs which may be informing this perception is erroneous.

He argued that MPs may have procured some of these indices of wealth through loans.

He said a 4x4 vehicle which is often seen as a symbol of comfort is used by some MPs as part of their official duties.

Banking a perception of corruption on these material possessions may be “misleading”, he told Joy News.

The lawyer and politician also argued that MPs have some part-time jobs to supplement their 7,000 cedis monthly income.

He believes the findings show that there is much work to be done by State organs such as the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE).

The NCCE is charged with educating citizenry on the roles and responsibilities of political office holders, citizens and also sensitizing Ghanaians on their civic responsibilities.