Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has charged Members of Parliament to refocus on their actual mandate instead of shirking them.
He observes that Members of Parliament (MP) have abandoned their principal mandate of championing the interests of their constituents and representing their interests in Parliament, fixing their focus on promising infrastructure development.
His Majesty noted that this misplaced mandate is sponsoring the ignorance among the masses to tend to vote out lawmakers when they don’t get their roads and other promised developmental infrastructures constructed.
At a meeting with the Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin and some legislators, Otumfuo decried the trend as he noted that infrastructure development is vested in the District Assemblies and not the MPs.
He also noted that MPs are causing this misrepresentation.
“Why do MPs promise roads and other infrastructural projects? You have to promise people sound laws. Every now and then, you have to convene a meeting with your constituents and educate them about bills laid before the House, take their views and send them back to the House. The same applies to loans laid before the House for approval.
“The people must be consulted about them. The lame person has no idea about the Parliamentary terms and so going down to their level to explain to them will give them a fair view of your works. Let people know it’s not the responsibility of MPs to make roads but the District Assembly.”
The Speaker was at the Palace on June 30, 2024. He is on a three-day visit to the Ashanti Region as part of nationwide activities marking the 30th anniversary celebration of the Fourth Republic.
He was accompanied to the Palace by his wife, Linda Ofosuaa, the Second Deputy Speaker, Hon Andrew Adomako Asiamah, the MP for Asokwa, Hon Patricia Appiagyei, the MP for Sekyere Afram Plains, Hon Alexander Adomako Ntim, the MP for Asante Akim Central, Hon Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, Clerks of Parliament and other Parliamentary staff.
Source: Manhyia Palace
