Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Sagnarigu constituency in the Northern Region, Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini has revealed that majority of his colleagues in Parliament are very broke contrary to public perception that they are fabulously rich.
According to him, the situation becomes worse when his colleagues leave Parliament saying they turn paupers few years after leaving the august House.
He attributed this turn of events to financial pressures mounted on them by their constituents whiles in Parliament.
Parliamentary seats always become hot cake for people yearning to serve their constituents because of the respect and goodies that come with the title Honorable during elections.
MPs are perceived to be fabulously rich because they have good salaries and are able to support their constituents who run to them for financial assistance amidst driving in fuel-guzzling vehicles.
This perception has turned out not to be true, as the MP for Sagnarigu constituency says majority of current and former MPs silently languish in poverty.
In an interview with Joy FM monitored by MyNewsGh.com, the vociferous lawmaker explained that due to the pressures from constituents, some of the MPs run into debts.
According to him, MPs only depend on their ex-gratia to settle their debts to prevent embarrassment leaving them nothing to cater for themselves and their families.
‘I can tell you that the lives of many former MPs is not much to write home about, many of them have left Parliament and have become destitute… I can tell you that when MPs are still active in offices, the kind of pressures they undergo from constituents is unimaginable, it leaves a vast majority of them in debts. Sometimes what they will get as ex-gratia will be used to defray debts, leaving them with nothing to take care of their families”, he revealed
A.B.A Fuseini lamented that they commit their finances in helping other people during funerals, weddings and building of houses leaving them nothing to depend on.
‘Our politics is increasingly monetized, to the point that the pressure is on the MPs to provide anything. I’m telling you as we speak, MPs are supposed to be building houses for people in some constituencies, they will ask you for cement, roofing sheets, wood, they will ask you for even sand, in addition to school fees, funerals, weddings, personal problems, just mention it. MPs are burdened with all these responsibilities and in the face of it how much is MPs earnings,’ he bemoaned.
He intimated that even when constituents’ businesses collapse, the MPs will be expected to provide money for them to start businesses.
‘MPs are burdened with all these responsibilities and in the face of it how much is MPs earnings,’ he asked.
