
Audio By Carbonatix
A Governance Expert, Mr Kojo Asante, has attributed Parliament's sinking image to the inability of political parties to conduct thorough vetting of prospective MPs.Mr Asante, who is the Head of Legal and Governance at the Centre for Democratic Development, said the situation raises concern about the calibre of people who would constitute the legislature in the future.He was speaking on Joy FM’s current affairs programme, Front Page on the implications of various allegations of fraud against some sitting MPs.Former NPP MP for Nkoranza North, Eric Amoateng is being held in the US for alleged narcotic offences, police here are investigating the NDC MP for Sene, Felix Twumasi Appiah's alleged involvement in fake drug transaction and prosecutors in the US have declared the NPP MP for Upper-Denkyira East, Nana Amoako wanted for alleged one million dollar theft.Mr. Asante said serious background checks must be done on those who seek to enter Parliament.“The parties have great responsibilities but there really is no capacity for them to do that extensive due diligence especially for the background of those living or who have lived in abroad for many year,” he said.Two MPs who were on the program attribute the increasing level of fraud in the legislature to monetization of Ghanaian politics.MP for Bole Bamboi and Minority Spokesman on Foreign Affairs, Mr John Mahama said campaigning to be elected MP has become so expensive there is the tendency for people to want to recoup the large sums of money they put in.“It is increasingly becoming very expensive to run an election. And so you are in Parliament working and anytime there is primaries people descend from Iceland and others…melt their dollars and really give you a stiffer race down here. If they unseat you, naturally there is the tendency as human being to recoup whatever expenses they have made,” he noted.Majority Chief Whip, Mr Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu said the constitutional provision that binds the president to choose majority of his ministers from Parliament provides enough motivation for people to put in a fortune to get elected into the legislature with the hope that they will get ministerial appointments.He proposed that Parliament takes a second look at the law in the attempt to deal with the problem.“Parliament must sit down and come to some consensus on this… In my view it must be limited to ministers and not include deputy ministers.”
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Economy Committee warns institutions against ignoring invitation, threatens sanctions
2 minutes -
Ghana’s poultry self-sufficiency stagnant at 12% – Agri-Impact CEO
3 minutes -
Rev Mrs Grace Millicent Laatele Addo (Nee Laate)
17 minutes -
Health experts urge caution over mandatory US military testosterone screenings
17 minutes -
West Indies legend Sobers dies aged 89
42 minutes -
Ebo Taylor’s funeral set for August 1 as family announces final rites
49 minutes -
12 Years for French teacher who defiled pupil during private lessons
50 minutes -
31 PWDs in Oforikrom receive livelihood support to boost economic independence
53 minutes -
Minority demands halt to Tiktoker’s second prosecution, demands repeal of offensive conduct and publication of false news law
54 minutes -
GRIDCo to install 145MVA transformer at Kumasi substation to boost power reliability – Energy Ministry
1 hour -
Toronto chokes under toxic skies as wildfire smoke engulfs the city
1 hour -
Prayers, Prophecies and Politics: Who’s really working for Ghana’s peace, progress and development?
1 hour -
Oscar-winning actress Brenda Fricker dies at 81
1 hour -
NPP pledges to support TikToker Camilla Alhassan’s jail term appeal
2 hours -
Newborn baby found dead at hotel refuse dump in Wa
2 hours