Government Spokesperson and Member of Parliament for the Abura Asebu Kwamankese Constituency, Hon Felix Ofosu Kwakye,has revealed that the financial demands of serving constituents can sometimes leave MPs personally broke, recounting a moment he had to call his wife to send him GH¢500 just to buy fuel and return to Accra.
According to the lawmaker, public criticism over the conditions of service for Members of Parliament, particularly the provision of luxury vehicles, often overlooks the personal financial sacrifices many MPs make while serving their constituencies.
Speaking on the current affairs programme Newfile on Joynews, the MP argued that lawmakers spend significant portions of their personal income addressing the needs of their constituents.
To illustrate his point, Kwakye Ofosu shared a personal experience from a visit to his constituency, where he had attended to numerous requests from residents.
“I was in the constituency one day. Everything I had on me was taken away from me. I had to call my wife to send me GH¢500 to buy fuel to come to Accra,” he revealed.
The MP explained that such situations are not uncommon for many legislators who often feel compelled to offer financial assistance to constituents facing various challenges.
However, he acknowledged that the persistent criticism of MPs may partly stem from a lack of transparency about the nature of their work and the financial pressures they face.
Kwakye Ofosu suggested that greater openness about the realities of parliamentary work could help address public misconceptions about lawmakers.
His remarks come amid ongoing public debate about the perks and privileges of MPs, with some critics recently suggesting that legislators should be provided with bicycles instead of SUVs as a way of cutting government expenditure.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Tamara Owusu Ansah
