Issifu Mahmoud, a member of Parliament for Binduri has replied to critics against the GHC150,000 allocated to members of parliament.
Issifu Mahmoud revealed some senior members of parliament spend more than GHC150,000 in a week.
According to him, the GHC150,000 budgetary allocation for members of parliament to monitor projects is woefully inadequate.
Parliament of Ghana on Saturday, March 29, approved the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) distribution formula of GHC250,000 each for Members of Parliament.
The allocation is meant to fund the MPs’ educational-related projects in their constituencies and an additional GHC150,000 was also allocated to each Member of Parliament to monitor these projects.
Parliament’s decision has sparked criticism from some Ghanaians doubting the necessity and appropriateness of the funds.
Charles Owusu Kumi, the Binduri MP noted that members of parliament normally face monetary burdens from their constituents who mostly request school fees, medical expenses, and others.
Speaking in an interview on Channel One TV, “They are right to some extent. But they can only be right if they don’t understand the nature of the job of a Member of Parliament in a constituency.
Because this so-called GHC150,000 that is meant for us to do monitoring or whatever is woefully inadequate”, he added.
He further justified the need for the GETFUND allocation saying, “Apart from we the poor MPs or we those who are starting, I know some senior MPs who even spend far more than GHC150,000 in a week, in a month as far as the needs of their constituency are concerned. They pay school fees, they assist people in all sectors of life in their constituencies”.
Meanwhile, social activist Oliver Barker Vormawor has reacted to the news of parliament approving 267 million cedis to monitor Getfund and an additional 96.7 million cedis.
According to him, he does not understand that parliament just taxes, shares and loot.
In a post on X, he wrote, “ I dont understand! You mean they get 267 million cedis to monitor Getfund? In addition to the 96.7 million too?
Oh okay! This makes perfect sense. We should have just allowed Parliament to build that Chamber. Tax, Share and Loot! Shalom!”.
