NDC UK/Ireland Youth Wing Statement On Parliament's Salary Increase Demand

OUR Mps ARE GREEDY AND INSENSITIVE.

We wish to strongly, and without any equivocation, condemn the attempt by members of parliament to hoodwink government and the people of Ghana into increasing their salaries on the basis of the so called ‘needs of their constituents’. In October last year members of parliament received a 20% rise in their salaries which was in tandem with salary increases in the country. Less than six months after such large increases they are at it again. Last minute recriminatory decisions taken by former president Kufuor meant that the Mills government took over a poisoned chalice with a burdened account and a huge structural deficit. The implementation of the single spine salary structure and such salary increases from which the MPs benefited last year meant that government struggled to meet its demands whiles ensuring that development reaches those who voted these MPs into parliament. The demand by MPs for another salary increase is the height of insensitivity and greed. It is completely unacceptable that these MPs, knowing that such levels of government expenditure are unsustainable, are committed to aggrandising themselves at all cost. It must be noted that privileges are not rights. Therefore our MPs must interpret the constitution in tandem with the mood of the nation. A salary increase, less than six months after a 20% increase is an abuse of the people’s trust. We believe that the people of Ghana need to be empowered to fend for themselves. The suggestion that MPs need higher salaries to cater for the needs of their constituents is therefore not only immoral but archaic. Such Lord-Peasant dependency relationships must be rejected by the Presidential Commission on Emoluments and all well meaning Ghanaians. We wish to commend the MP for Shai Osu Doku, David Tetteh Asumeng for showing faith with the ordinary Ghanaian. We cannot salute him enough for his outstanding courage in this matter. Ghanaians are not expecting fish from their MPs to eat but nets to fish with. They are not looking forward to crumbs to fall from MPs fat pay cheques. They want their own pay cheques. Finally we call on all Ghanaians, labour unions and civil society groups from all corners of the country to leave no stone unturned in making sure that this time round our MPs stop taking the needs and expectations of the people for granted. Otherwise our parliament and the political system risks loosing its fragile legitimacy. THE YOUTH WING, NDC UK/IRELAND CHAPTER
Suite 12775
2nd Floor 145-157
St John Street
London
EC1V 4PY
UK