'It is ridiculous to have 275 parliamentarians in this country' – Presidential candidate

Independent presidential candidate, Kofi Koranteng, has rubbished the need for 275 parliamentarians in the country.

The presidential hopeful of the New Vision Movement advocated for a national development plan to be enshrined in the constitution that would specifically address the needs of constituents without relying on parliamentarians.

Speaking on Accra-based GHOne TV on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, he stated that the reliance on 275 parliamentarians representing every constituency places pressure on the country’s finances, making them a liability rather than an asset.

“The expense and liability of having 80 ministers and 275 parliamentarians is ridiculous. What is the purpose of a parliamentarian? We don’t need 275 of them. If we had a national development plan for the next 50 years, in four-year timelines, everything the parliamentarians do out there—representing their constituents and advocating for their needs to parliament—could be addressed more effectively. Their role should be to fight for what their constituents need to get work done,” he explained.

Kofi Koranteng further emphasised the importance of utilising local government, believing it will lessen the burden and pressure on the national system.

“So, what I’m saying is if we have a national development plan entrenched in the constitution, so, NDC and NPP will not come and change it and we’re going 50 years in this direction, we’re going to fix all our roads. We’re going to build all our infrastructure, hospitals, schools, tunnels, bridges.

"Everything infrastructure, we put it in that national development plan. Everything that’s small ticket item in the regions will be taken over at the regional level because of decentralisation - local government; we wouldn’t have a problem and a need for 275 parliamentarians,” he explained.

MAG/MA