The 1st Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu has bid farewell to Public Service, describing salaries paid to members as peanuts.
According to him, the salaries and emoluments paid to staff of the Public Service generally, are nothing to write home about.
The Member of Parliament for Bekwai made this statement during an interview with 3news’ Eric Mawuena Egbeta on January 3 ahead of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) by President Akufo-Addo.
“I’m done with Public Service,” he said.
According to him, “you put so much into Public Service and the returns are peanuts, yet you are disrespected because you are paid the peanuts that you worked for.”
He added that, “the energy one dedicates to public service, if the same is devoted to personal endeavours, you will become wealthy.”
Meanwhile, Mr Joe Osei-Owusu has described how activities in the 8th Parliament were handled by members as disappointing.
His disappointment steps from the fact that so much time was spent arguing on things that were unproductive.
“I am disappointed in the 8th Parliament. We wasted too much time on frivolous matters,” he said in an interview with 3news’ Eric Mawuena Egbeta on January 3.
“The 9th Parliament is a new Parliament. This structure should give them the opportunity to work harder,”” he said.
Mr Osei-Owusu did not site instances. However, it is on record that the 8th Parliament was characterised by boycott of proceedings by members of both the Majority and Minority sides of the House at one point or the other. Mention can be made of the debate over the introduction of the electronic levy, betting tax, tax exemption for some Freezones companies, declaration of four seats vacant, among others.
According to the 1st Deputy Speaker the time spent haggling over such issues could have been put to better use.
In a related development, the Outgoing President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo presents his final State of the Nation Address (SONA) to Parliament today, Friday, January 3, 2025, at 10:00 AM.
This event also marks the final session of the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic, which will be officially dissolved on Monday, January 6, 2025. Following its dissolution, the 9th Parliament will convene at 11:00 PM the same day to elect a Speaker and two Deputy Speakers.
A statement from the Parliamentary Service confirms that the Speaker-elect and newly elected Members of Parliament will take their oaths at midnight, ushering in the 9th legislative term.
