2004 Review: "Konongo Kaya" Award

WINNER: Members of Parliament

In 2001, members of parliament fought and obtained a car loan of $20,000 each. According to the arrangements, payment for the cars would be made directly from the MPs salaries from month to month.

MPs were paid a monthly salary of 1.3 million Cedis and deductions were pegged at around 1.2 million cedis, which left the MPs with no more than 100,000 cedis (about $15) for the rest of the month.

"The tax payers and government risk being ripped of massive amounts of money if the 20,000 dollar loans for MP?s to purchase vehicles are approved." -The Editor of Weekly Insight, Kwesi Pratt Junior warned

?Everybody in Ghana knows that 100,000 Cedis cannot sustain even the body and soul, so where are the MPs going to get monies to cater for themselves. Are they going to cut corners and engage in deals? Although the MP?s need cars to facilitate their work, their actions show that they are more interested in buying luxurious cars." - he continued

Now that reality is biting, they're whining. Was the job forced on them? If you can't do it, why stand for re-election?... READ MORE