Parliament gets too little money to do business

Political barriers within Parliament broke down on Monday as members complained of low budgetary allocations and the pains they had to endure before they are even released.

"Some us sometimes accompany the Clerk to the Ministry of Finance to plead or negotiate for release of funds, "Mr Freddy Blay, First Deputy Speaker said.

The House was debating the budgetary proposals for the Parliamentary Services, which stood at 85.7 billion cedis.

Mr J.H.Mensah, Senior Minister, asked the House to be in control of its destiny and endeavour to set its own priorities.

He criticised members for not showing much interest in their welfare and proper resourcing of the House.

The member said MPs would assume their proper role in governance if they played their constitutional role, which includes the monitoring and supervision of Ministries, Departments and Agencies and other constitutional bodies properly.

He questioned the House's decision to put up a two storey block that is supposed to offer office space for Parliamentary business since " it is still struggling to renovate the tower block" which would offer the needed rooms for Parliamentary business.

Mr Kosi Kedem, NDC-Hohoe South, called for budgetary allocations for the various committees to undertake their activities.

He asked that every MP must have at least one research assistant to make the work of members more research-based.

Mr Isaac Amo, NPP-Awayaso Wuogon, said Parliament had allowed itself to be treated as low rated institution over the years.

He said the salaries of MPs were just low, allowances so meagre and conditions of service, poor.

The member said Parliament, which is the law maker was breaking the law on minimum wage as drivers of MPs are supposed to be paid 130,000 cedis a month.

He said if a member were given 120,000 cedis a month as clothing allowance, "How then do you ask members to dress well when coming to the house."

Members had vented their anger on Mr Eugene Atta Agyepong, Chairman of the Finance Committee, when he sought to end the debate.

The House later approved 42.6 billion cedis for the Ministry of Manpower Development and Employment.

Two constitutional bodies also had their budgetary allocations approved.

They are the National Commission on Culture (NCC), 20.2 billion cedis and National Media Commission (NMC), 1.1 billion cedis.