Rev.Jefferson Agbotro Kwasi has observed a worrisome trend in the politics of Ghana in recent times and has asked the question wether becoming a member of Parliament is really a " CALL TO SERVICE " or " LUCRATIVE BUSINESS VENTURE" in the fourth Republican parliament? In coming Members of parliament must invest huge sums of money in their campaign in order to be elected as candidate for their respective parties, just to be an aspirant. Delegates who are expected to appreciate leasdership better and to objectively and fairly vote based on the capacity of the candidates do not do anything different from what the general population does during national elections. From the primaries levels, these aspirants still have to spend collosal amount in their campaigns, dashing monies to citizens in exchange of vote. Most spend millions to even billions in their attempt to becoming members of parliament. The question that any logician and even a junior high school graduate would ask is this: How is the MP going to pay back all these huges sums of monies spent, where will the money come from, who sponsored the MP and so on?
These are the questions lingering in my mind that I seek for answers and clarity on?
Are we suprised how corruption has surge in recent times? All the contracts would go to these sponsors of campaigns and when they do shoddy work on national projects, the Member of parliament who is supposed to facilitate development and who also plays supervisory roles on constituency projects loses the moral right and the conscience to question wrongs. This has become a common phenomenon in Ghana. Many in coming MPs lack the capacity to lead even themselves yet they are able to win power on the tickets of political parties and end up disappointing their entire constituents and under development is inevitable. These candidates buy themselves into power with the motive of enriching themselves and not for service. The philosophy of entering parliament as a short circuit of becoming rich over night is not uncommon in contemporary times. This is what is accounting for the underdevelopment in Ghana. People who do not have the capacity of making meaningful contributions to the floor of parliament. There are MPs in Ghana who have won election for about four terms who have never made any comment and any contributions to the debate and discussion in the house of parliament yet they keep on winning. Am tempted to believe that they are there to do business as usual and delay or retard the development of their constituents.
Way Forward? Citizens need to wise up and rise to challenge this anomaly and sickness in our society. We the citizens have to be up and doing and demand policies and hold duty bearers accountable of their promises made. If you are in to serve , we will know, if you are in for business, time and posterity shall reveal you out.
Rev.Jefferson Kwasi Agbotro
MSC OD