The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, is raising concerns over the intense desire for many to be in Parliament, questioning what is in there to warrant the growing interest of many seeking to become lawmakers.
According to the overlord of the Asante Kingdom, what is mind boggling is the extreme measures some people are willing to take, including insults and physical attacks to be in Parliament.
He made the comments when the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi Sunday, June 30, 2024.
“What is in Parliament that everyone wants to go there? What is there that people will beat others and insult people just to go to Parliament, this is something that you have to pay attention to. Governance is supposed to be the sharing of ideas on which aspects of the economy one can help improve if the power is given to you,” the Otumfuo questioned.
The Asantehene also questioned why parliamentarians make unrealistic promises despite knowing they lack the capacity to execute them.
He says the responsibility of legislators is to go to Parliament to make laws for the country, and what is expected of them is to communicate to their constituents, how they will represent them and help strengthen the laws of the land.
Otumfuo has questioned why MPs make promises such as constructing roads for their constituents whilst knowing they have no means to do so.
“But as an MP going to Parliament without budget, why should you promise that you can construct a road from one point to the other? Yours is to let the electorates know that if they put you in Parliament, you’ll represent them to help strengthen the laws of the land,” the Otumfuo said.
Speaker Bagbin is on a three-day official visit to the Ashanti Region as part of a nationwide tour marking the 30th anniversary celebration of the Fourth Republic.
