Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Majority Leader, has proposed that the number of seats in Parliament is reduced from 275 to 200.
In the view of the MP who represents the constituents of Effutu, the move would ease pressure on the public purse.
“I must say that one critical thing to look at is to put an upper limit on the number of MPs that we must elect each year. It is unpalatable that a small country like Ghana with its many financial problems has 275 MPs. In contrast with all its financial muscle, Australia has 151 and 76 senators. We need a change in the law to stop the unnecessary expansion in the number of seats in our Parliament. We must reduce the number of seats in our parliament from 275 to 200,” he said while addressing a gathering at this year’s GIMPA Law Conference on Wednesday, March 15.
Meanwhile, he has suggested that the country consider creating an Upper chamber known as the House of Elders.
He has proposed that the Council of State be reconfigured to serve this purpose.
He also spoke about challenges MPs were facing aside from their job as lawmakers.
“Although lawmakers are not strictly speaking development agents, many MPs have had to dig so deep into their private pockets to provide public infrastructure to benefit underserved communities in their constituencies. In the process, many MPs have retired as paupers and have to deal with the pain of paying for private loans they contracted in their time in office to provide for the needs of their constituents.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
