Review MPs working conditions - Minority

The Minority says it has referred the working conditions of the Legislature to the Executive for review to ensure that Members of Parliament (MPs) were able to deliver under the current democratic culture.

It says this was in accordance with Article 71, which empowered the President to appoint a committee in consultation or on advice of the Council of State to determine conditions of service of the Legislators.

Deputy Minority Whip, John Akologu Tia, said the review of the conditions was necessary in view of how the Executive was handling the MPs' car loan saga.

The MP made the comments after the House met behind closed-doors to consider the 20,000 dollars car loan to each parliamentarian that has attracted public outcry with the Executive claiming it had no hand in the deal.

Minority leader, Alban Bagbin said the MPs deplored the government's handling of the car loan issue making it appear as if it was Parliament that has the power to approve its own budget.

The Constitution gives the Executive power to scrutinise and approve parliamentary budget and vice-versa.

According to Bagbin, also MP for Nadowli North, the Minister of Finance, Yaw Osafo-Maafo had concluded a deal with the Parliamentarians to purchase cars for their official duties under a high purchase agreement for MPs in a letter dated September 4.

The letter said, "instalment payments for each Member of Parliament will be deducted at source with effect from the end of September 2001 at the rate of 1.2 million cedis per month".

The letter also directed that "unpaid balance will be settled from other entitlements of MP's at the end of the parliamentary term of four years".

Hon. Bagbin said some MPs were even surprised when at the end of September the deductions were effected while they have not even taken delivery of the cars.

He said the deductions started early to ensure that the MPs would be able to complete payment on schedule.

Mr Bagbin said it was unfortunate that the public was reacting to the situation as if the car loan was a gift "and that MPs were like vampires that have no sympathy for the ordinary Ghanaian".

He said the MPs need cars to function, adding, "an MP without a car cannot be blamed for coming to Parliament late and not attending properly to the business of the House".

Former Minister for Communications and MP for Bole John Mahama, said the negative public reaction to the car issue was the failure of government to face up to the realities and "rather adopted diversionary attitude towards the issue as it does whenever there was public outcry on national issues".

"This government has a history of distancing itself from matters that have negative public reactions."