A retired diplomat, Dr. K B Asante has described the upward salary adjustment of Members of Parliament as “inappropriate” in the present condition that the country has found itself.
According to the one-time Secretary to the late Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghanaian MPs need to be of exemplary by “cutting their coats according to their cloth” and stop “imposing” some sort of lifestyle upon themselves.
Dr K.B Asante said this in a telephone interview with Breakfast TV host, Bismark Brown in reaction to the latest circulating report that indicates that Members of Parliament in Ghana are set to receive a salary increase from GHC3000 to GHC7200.
He said, “it is certainly not an excessive salary for a Member of Parliament, but it is inappropriate in the present condition of Ghana.”
“The MP’s should give to their constituencies what they can offer, they should cut their coat according to their cloth, again the people in their constituencies should not demand so much of them as well. The cost of living is hard for everyone so the MPs should show leadership.”
According to him, MPs were fond of making impressions especially at funerals and advised them to desist from the act.
His statements however did not go down well with the guests on the show; Mr Seth Kwame Acheampong,NPP MP for Mpreaso, and Mr Kobla Mensah Woyome, NDC MP for South Tongu.
In separate submissions, the two indicated that they were not privy to any information about salary adjustment.
Mr Kobla Mensah Woyome noted that the salaries of the MPs were inadequate since Parliamentarians bore the cost of vehicle maintenance, fuel and other expenses that they incur in the discharge of their duties.
His colleague MP, Mr Seth Kwame Acheampong shared the same sentiments with him. He also raised concerns over the public outcry and wondered why that is the case anytime there is news about MPs salary adjustments.
Source: GhanaWeb
