You are killing me - MP To Constituents

The New Patriotic Party?s Member of Parliament for the Suhum Constituency Ransford Yaw Agyepong has sent a plea to the overtly expectant public to with a immediate effect, put a stop to what he described as ?the unnecessary demands they put on Parliamentarians.?

?Contrary to what people think, most of us are not rich to be dashing out monies and all kinds of gifts to our constituents but when you explain, they don?t understand you and this is killing me in particular?.

Lamenting to the Network Herald during an interview in Accra, Mr. Agyepong who seemed more inclined towards the very cosmopolitan American electorate, ruled it?s about time the public recognizes the role of a Parliamentarian as a law maker and not as the richest person in the society ready and willing to give out money to every Tom, Dick and Harry in the constituency.

?Even if I?m rich, how long would I be able to do that when they can try and engage in some productive jobs to earn a better living?. He said to be a rich MP means engaging in other businesses to support the meagre salaries that are doled out to the country?s legislators. The Suhum MP recounted ?never before in a day since becoming an MP have I not received from my constituency an invitation to be present at a funeral service, a school?s open day, a church harvest, a naming ceremony, appeals for funds and so on; any time I attend such functions, at least 50,000 cedis is expected from me?.

He was also very blunt about the killing invitations because ?I have a family and other responsibilities to take care of but anytime I refuse they say I?m being wicked and callous to them?. Then his advice to political parties and politicians in general. Stop offering gifts to the electorate to woo them to vote in your favor since these go only to suggest that they are benevolent Father Christmases, ready to provide them with their needs and wants which is not what they as law makers and helpers of government should do to provide better standards of living to the citizenry.

He told the Network Herald that in most advanced democratic states, nobody offers gifts to accrue votes because to them, charity wounds the receiver. There, the electorate votes and votes for their conscience even if they know you can?t deliver on their aspirations. To him, what pertains here can derail the country?s young democratic system because experienced and good materials who can contribute effectively to strengthen the system wouldn?t be able to do that since they may not be able to afford the constant flow of gifts to the large number of people in the constituency just to convince them vote in their favor.

He pointed out that the effects of gifts on an already over bearing politician who sees himself more above the law than any other person in the society is grave viewed against the fact that gifts by themselves are a contractual agreement between the giver and the receiver. The simple interpretation is that the politician could be accused of buying votes, which will not create any obligation on the politician to get on with the physical development of the constituency.

The Suhum MP who is having his first experience in parliament and would like to contest again said a term is not enough for Member of Parliament to get himself aquatinted with the rules and regulations of the house. He praised the J.H Mensah?s, Adjaho?s and the Bagbin?s who he said had contributed immensely to the establishment of parliamentary democracy in the country. But he also suggested that they might have been able to initiate vital projects in their respective constituencies through the enormous skills they?ve acquired in their many years in parliament.