By Sarah Baafi
Members of Parliament in Ghana are increasingly burdened by the dual responsibilities of legislative work and community development, a situation that threatens to stretch them beyond their constitutional roles, according to the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
Speaking at the Speakers Breakfast Forum, a programme aimed at “bringing Parliament to the doorsteps of the citizens”, held at The Palms and Eagles, Airport City, Mr Afenyo-Markin said MPs often find themselves acting as the primary point of contact for local challenges while simultaneously managing national legislative duties.
“Our MPs are burdened with developmental problems from communities, alongside legislative issues,” he said, highlighting the pressure on parliamentarians to meet constituents’ expectations in the absence of structured local parliamentary offices.
Research cited at the forum indicated that between 40% and 73% of citizens in some constituencies identify their MPs as the main avenue for addressing community issues. This, he said, creates significant strain.
In many cases, engagement takes place informally at funerals, social gatherings or even at MPs’ private residences, raising concerns about the blurring of personal, political and constitutional responsibilities.
The forum emphasised that parliamentary decentralisation could offer a solution by creating structured local offices to clarify institutional responsibilities, provide neutral platforms for engagement and enable MPs to focus on both legislative duties and effective representation.
