GREDA proposes Parliamentary Village as duty post for MP, (Feb. 13, 2013, Back page)

The Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) has proposed the construction of a Parliamentary Village as duty post for all Members of Parliament (MPs) as a long-term solution to the accommodation challenges facing the legislators.

According to Mr Emmanuel Asamoah, the Executive Director of GREDA, the current practice of giving rent allowances to MPs was a drain on the nation’s coffers and not sustainable.

 

He said if the government had such a facility, it would not be burdened with paying GHc50,000 or more on every MP every four years for their accommodation.

Mr Asamoah, the GREDA, the GREDA Executive Dir, (left) and The Founder of the CeDI-AFRICA Foundation, Mr Ohemeng Baah (2nd left)

 

The GHc50,000 rent allowance is a 60 per cent increment over the allowance given to MPs of the last Parliament. The amount for all 275 MPs is GHc13,750,000.

 

“Government has vast land which could be given to real estate companies to develop high-rise apartments to serve as a duty post for MPs,” Mr Asamoah said.

 

Reports on the recent payment of GHc50,000 to each MP as rent allowance have sparked a national debate.

 

Per GREDA estimates, a two-bedroom house could be constructed at GHc40,000, which is less than what is being given each MP as rent allowance.

 

Speaking at the launch of CeDI Foundation, a civil society organisation, in Accra Tuesday, Mr Asamoah said when constructed, the maintenance of the Parliamentary Village could be the responsibility of the district assemblies.

 

“If it is a duty post, the MPs do not need to come to Accra with all their family and belongings. They can be wherever they were before they became MPs.  It could be such that once they lose the elections, the next MPs take over,” Mr Asamoah added.

 

Among other objectives, the CeDI Foundation is to contribute to the broadening of the minds of Ghanaians on democracy, the promotion of the African as a catalyst for development, a platform for advocating a fair and just society, as well as the right of citizens.

 

The occasion was also used to hold  the first in a series of Citizen Alert Forums on issues of national  importance.

 

On the theme, “Measuring the Payment of Huge Rent Advance to MPs against the Standard of Leadership, Integrity and social Justice”, the forum examined why the payment of such rent advances were detrimental to the principles of equity and social justice.

 

The Founder of the CeDI Foundation, Mr Ohemeng Baah, observed that the problem of Africa was not about leadership but rather accountability.

 

“We can elect the best of people into government but if we don’t hold them accountable, then we will continue to move in this cycle,” he said.

 

He said it was sad that politicians forgot their mandate when elected, adding, “We don’t pay them to explain problems but solve problems.”

 

Mr Baah said the foundation was not a vehicle for partisanship but rather the promotion of the interest of the vulnerable and the down-trodden.

 

A member of the foundation, Mr Francis-Xavier Sosu, described the quantum of funds paid MPs as a disservice to the nation.

 

“Leadership is about service. We are elected to represent the hopes and aspirations of the people. We leaders must be the first to know the way and show the way. We must be the first changes we would like to see in society,” he said.

 

“Considering rent problems in the country today and the realities facing the ordinary worker, can we say the rent advance given our MPs is unjustifiable,” he asked