Delays by the Mahama government in paying the financial benefits of Members of Parliament, including their share of the District Assemblies Common Fund has sparked renewed anger in the House.
Reports indicate that many of the MPs are too broke to even return to their constituencies for fear of being attacked by constituents who are constantly making one financial demand or the other.
CitiNews is reliably informed that the agitations of members of the legislature are so intense that leaders of the House fear it could stall proceedings opened on Wednesday.
The rising temperature among MPs has forced leadership of the House to call an emergency meeting scheduled for 12 PM on Thursday to discuss the burning issues ahead of formal sitting later in the day.
[contextly_sidebar id=”0jD7QmjNcOwoUJA8GjQXFGzfZCxH57fJ”]Soon after Wednesday’s sitting, Citi News caught up with a Deputy Majority Chief Whip of the House, Ahmed Ibrahim, who confirmed the concerns of MPs but said serious discussions are underway to ensure the unpaid funds are released.
“The leadership [of Parliament] is not just sitting down unconcerned, we are members of Parliament together with the people we are leading so we understand their plight but we should not use this as a precondition,the Majority Chief Whip clarified.”
Parliament has been battling with financial difficulties for sometime now.
A similar situation in May, forced the House to postpone its resumption date from May to June.
The Minority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu who confirmed this to Citi News, in May, said the resumption of business in Parliament, which was originally scheduled for Tuesday, May 27, had been postponed to June 3 due to financial difficulties.
The Minority Leader further revealed that business in the House is expected to suffer yet another significant setback, as members would have to wait a little longer than expected, before reconvening.
By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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