Kofi Amankwa-Manu, the Member of Parliament for Atwima-Kwanwoma constituency, highlighted how MPs are burdened by their constituents on almost every issue, including those outside of their duties.
In an interview with Kumasi-based Hello FM, the lawmaker, who is also the Deputy Minister of Defence, recounted how he was once asked to ensure that weeds were removed around public toilets.
“I remember going on patrol to conduct community engagement…people sent me, so for better or worse I go to them. But you know what they told me? They said the toilet was covered in bushes and they wanted me to come and weed it.
“Yes, it was question time. They had a floor to ask questions and it was a question that someone asked,” he narrated.
The councilor said he had to patiently explain that the request was off-duty, but was confused to learn that the toilet in question was a public toilet used to make money.
He thus expressed concern about what the money earned from using the toilets was being used by local residents.
“I had to patiently explain to the guy that it’s not a congressman’s job to come to the bathroom and weed, we have a congressman. That’s his job.
“I even asked if they were taking money from people using the toilets, and the people who asked that question were even the ones collecting the money. “Everything in the constituency,” he pointed out.
Several members of Ghana’s parliament and some political commentators have successively expressed concern that the precise mandate of parliamentarians turned development agents is not understood.
Some say that MPs tend to be overburdened with issues outside of their core duties, a situation that sometimes leads to corruption and lack of productivity among MPs.
Source: ghanaweb.com
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