A brewing controversy is gripping the nation following reports that the Ministry of Finance has approved a GHS 400,000 payment to Members of Parliament (MAPs) to supervise GETFund projects. The move has sparked outrage from concerned citizens, civil society actors, and governance experts who are questioning the ethical and constitutional basis of the decision.
While the Ministry maintains that the payment is a facilitation allowance for parliamentary oversight, critics argue that this is a blatant misuse of public funds, amounting to bribery and a breach of democratic accountability.
A Conflict of Interest?
At the heart of the controversy is the constitutional mandate of Parliament to exercise oversight over the executive without financial inducement or incentive. Critics say the payment effectively compromises the independence of Parliament and introduces an unethical reward system for performing duties they are already paid to do.
“Why should MPs be paid extra to monitor state projects? Isn’t that part of their legislative oversight role?” asked Prof. Kofi Agyeman, a political science lecturer at the University of Ghana. “This is not just financial waste—it is an institutional scandal.”
Daylight Robbery or Administrative Lapse?
The allocation, which surfaced in internal documentation between the Ministry of Finance and the GETFund Secretariat, has raised suspicions of backdoor dealings between the executive and legislature.
Governance think tanks have described the move as daylight robbery of public funds, and a new low in the misuse of Ghanaian taxpayers’ money.
Civil society watchdogs and anti-corruption bodies have so far remained notably silent, sparking questions from citizens on social media about whether the watchdogs of democracy are now watching in silence.
“Where are the voices of civil society now? Where is the diplomatic corps, who often claim to support transparency and good governance?” a user on X (formerly Twitter) posted. “This is state-sponsored robbery hiding behind bureaucratic procedures.”
Calls for Accountability
Opposition lawmakers have called for a full parliamentary inquiry into the deal, warning that if such practices go unchecked, they will weaken public trust in democratic institutions. Civil society groups like OccupyGhana and ASEPA are being urged by citizens to speak up and challenge the legality and morality of the payment.
GETFund’s Integrity at Stake
The Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), originally established to finance infrastructure development in the education sector, now finds itself at the center of a governance firestorm. Stakeholders in the education sector argue that the funds could have been better spent on completing stalled school projects, building classrooms, or supplying learning materials to underserved communities.
“This payment sends a dangerous signal—that political expediency and personal reward trump the real needs of Ghanaian children,” said a senior teacher in the Ashanti Region.
Conclusion
As Ghanaians grapple with economic hardship, high inflation, and youth unemployment, the news of an additional GHS 400,000 being funneled to already well-remunerated MPs is a hard pill to swallow. The Ministry of Finance and Parliament now owe the nation a transparent explanation and a reversal of this decision, if public confidence in governance is to be restored.
Until then, the question remains: Who watches the watchdogs—and at what cost to the Ghanaian citizen?
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