You hate to hear MPs salary increased but always go to them for money – Speaker chides Ghanaians

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has bemoaned the public outcry when an increase in salaries of Members of Parliament is announced.

While speaking at a public forum at Takoradi, Mr. Bagbin said the MPs shoulder a lot of financial responsibilities for their constituents and therefore deserve better salaries.

“Whatever is given to the one you struggled to elect, you are opposed to it. Even though every day you knock at his door to request money to pay school fees and hospital bills, donate to churches, festivals, and funerals, you hate to hear that his salary is being increased, there must be a problem,” he lamented.

Ghana’s legislators have been requesting an increase in their emoluments for years citing the extra responsibilities they carry out in their respective constituencies.

The move for the increase in salaries and end-of-service benefits has been pushed and defended by both the Minority and Majority caucus of parliament.

In 2021, the MPs asked for their salaries to be pegged with that of Appeals Court judges.

Speaking at a media engagement in January 2021, the then Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu said their salaries had not been reviewed upwards in years, unlike other public sector workers.

“It is important that the public appreciates that for our job, there is no security of tenure… At the end of four years, [an MP] has to be entitled to it.

“What we need to do is to carry the public along. There are many of you who comment as if MPs are not deserving of it [better emoluments],” he said.