MPs Reject "Merge" ?2bn AIDS Cash

Members of Parliament have rejected a ?2 billion cash offer by the Ghana AIDS Commission to help in the HIV/AIDS campaign in their various constituencies because it was too meager. The money would also enable the MPs to monitor Community Based Organisations (CBOS0 and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) operating in their constituencies.

According to the MPs who earn an equivalent of $300 a month, the money offered by the Ghana AIDS Commission is too small as compared to what was given to NGOs and CBOs. The NGOs and CBOs received various amounts ranging from ?15 million to over ?250 million.

Under the agreement, each MP was to receive ?10 million. What was required of them in return was to mainly include AIDS messages in their political campaign messages.

The rejection of the money raises questions about the MPs genuine concern about the misapplication of AIDS funds by CBOs and NGOs as raised on the floor of the House.

Ironically, the misapplication of AIDS Commission funds by NGOs and CBOs was a subject of debate in Parliament with Members accusing the executives of the beneficial organizations of misapplying campaign funds.

The Public Relations Officer of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Eric Pwadura confirmed that the MPs rejected the money but said they were still negotiating with the Members. When the Vice Chairman of the Select Committee on Health, S.C. Buor-Karikari, who is a liaison person for MPs was contacted to know how much the MPs needed to carry out the task, he refused to say anything. “Please it is rather pre-mature to put it into public domain”, he told the Statesman newspaper.

But a Member of the Select Committee on Health, Dr Mustapha Ahmed explained that the MPs area of concern was about the possible incidental costs. He said the MPs are required to submit financial statements on the utilization of the funds to be prepared by hired accountants. “What we are saying is that the demands on the money should be scaled down”, Dr Ahmed added.