News:
April 8, 2013
The Member of Parliament for Lower West Akim, Gifty Klenam, has launched a scathing attack on the Public Affairs Directorate of Parliament for its inability to explain the rationale behind the payment of ex-gratia for MPs in the 5th Parliament.
According to her, the refusal of the Directorate to do its work of explaining issues from the perspective of Parliament to the public, has resulted in a situation where MPs have had to defend themselves in the media often with a lot of emotion which has contributed to public resentment against MPs.
All 230 Members of the 5th Parliament of the fourth Republic, who exited the House on 7th January 2013, have been paid their ex-gratia totaling GHC 39 Million.
MPs who did not return to Parliament after the 2012, December 7and 8 elections, received GHC 211,000whereas those who maintained their seats had between GHC270, 000 and GHC 275,000 depending on whether or not they were in leadership position.
The payment of these hefty amounts to MPs at the current harsh economic conditions at a time when government has said it has no money to pay striking teachers and Doctors has sparked a lot of public antagonism against the Legislators.
Speaking on Okay FM’s Morning show on Monday, Hon. Gifty Klenam expressed her indignation at the inertia on the part of the Public Affairs Directorate as they are paid to do exactly what they have failed to do saying “I’m wondering if the people at the Public Affairs Directorate are for us or against us they have failed woefully when we needed them most’’.
She entreated the public not to see the MPs as suddenly rich people since most of them are likely to go home with a small amount of their ex-gratia because they contracted huge loans from banks and used their ex-gratia as collateral.
Hon. Klenam noted that MPs have prevented mass of people from going directly to the seat of government to demand monetary support to improve their living conditions as they serve as the first point of call for their constituents in their time of needs, and as such must rather be appreciated when their ex-gratia entitlements are given them.
Kwadwo Anim/GhanaMPs.gov.gh