General News of Friday, 26 April 2019

Source: mynewsgh.com

People now go to parliament to protect their personal businesses - Muntaka

Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, MP for Asawase Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, MP for Asawase

Contrary to the widely held perception that people aspire to be lawmakers in the country because they wish to represent their constituents, Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament (MP) for Asawase Constituency in the Ahanti Region, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka thinks otherwise.

According to him, whereas other genuinely go to the parliament to serve the interest of the people who voted for them, other go there to protect their personal businesses which a deviation of the main purpose of the legislature.

In his view, most people also go to Parliament in recent times in expectation of ministerial appointment if their party wins power because majority of ministers are appointed from parliament as a constitutional requirement.

“Some of these MPs also go to Parliament to protect or enhance their private businesses and others go in anticipation of ministerial appointments in case their party wins power”, he revealed on Kumasi-based Pure FM anchored by Kwame Adinkra.

Others according to the fourth time MP, are there for other personal interests and do not really care to learn and participate in the work of Parliament which he said also accounts for the rampant absenteeism in the house.

He alleged some parliamentarians get some workers to sign attendance sheets for them when they not in the house, hinting that a biometric system is to be installed in the house to forestall this unhealthy habit involving the country’s lawmakers.

Hon. Mohammed -Mubarak Muntaka warned that until political parties review modalities of selecting parliamentary candidates ,Ghana’s Parliament will be led by first time Members of Parliament and these unhealthy habits will persist.