Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, has called for a well-structured Salary System for MPs.
According to him, it is disheartening to see first time MPs take the same salary as MPs who have served many years, describing the Legislature as the weakest of the three arms of Government.
He said if Ghana is to have Career Legislators who will help formulate good laws for the country, then emolument for MPs must be well packaged.
Mr. Mensah Bonsu made the point at a forum by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs with the core Leadership of Parliament.
He said if Ghana fails to build career legislators to hold Government in check, very soon the Executive will become overbearing and dominate the political scene because that is what that arm wants.
He noted that every Executive wants to deal with a very “weak Parliament”.
Mr. Mensah-Bonsu said if Ghana wants to build career MPs then Parliament must put in measures to recognise longevity in the House.
He bemoaned the current situation where first time MPs take the same salary as MPs who have served over three, four, and five terms describing it as very discouraging.
Mr. Kyei Mensah Bonsu said under Ghana’s current Constitution where the President is to pick the majority of his ministers from parliament, first time MPs become ministers or deputy ministers, which must be looked at again.
He said ministers must be people tried and tested and have the experience to perform Executive Government business.
Story filed by Felix Cofie.
