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Minority leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu, has lamented growing misunderstanding about the duties of Members of Parliament; not only by constituents but by some MPs themselves.
According to him, MPs are suffering from identity crises and are at a lose whether they are lawmakers or development agents.
He observed that there is role conflict whereby MPs have projected themselves as if they are district assemblies, promoting and sponsoring projects.
This, he said, is creating conflicts in constituencies because in the bid to win votes MPs make very ambitious promises and pledges that are very difficult to fulfil.
Speaking on the mandate of the Member of Parliament at a media forum for the Parliamentary Press Corps (PPC) on Thursday, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu warned this does not bode well for Ghana’s growing democracy.
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He argued, however, that some pledges may not be wrong because they may be within the framework of the political party’s manifesto or the flagbearer’s vision for governing the country.
He said, “I should, however, say that we suffer from a crisis of identity. Are we lawmakers or are we development agents? That conflict needs to be explained and that conflict needs to be understood and managed.”
“Some are of the view that the state should not give MPs money for purposes of Common Fund so they do not come into that role.”
“But many of you will appreciate what MPs do with their Common Fund because these become very visible and sometimes even more popular and acceptable than what the assemblies do in the constituencies.”
The Minority leader, and also member for Tamale South Constituency observed that for fear of being rejected MPs try to be impressive with state resources and virtually take on the development role from the assemblies.
He charged members of the Press Corps and the media, in general, to help educate Ghanaians on the role and mandate of members of Parliament in order to strengthen the fundamentals of the country’s democratic governance.
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Frontpageghana.com/Ghana
