What a great relief; parliament finally caved in; thanks in large measure to intense and unrelenting public pressure, our notoriously hard-headed and well fed MPs have capitulated;
The truth is that they were embarrassed into abandoning the proposed idea for a 200 million dollars monstrosity, a new chamber. Indeed, the backlash which culminated in a massive demonstration yesterday was right on the money — it was appropriate and timely. To be honest, the widespread public outcry was long overdue.
The fact that some of our law makers would even dream, let alone, publicly endorse an outrageous and a money guzzling proposal of this kind underscored their brazenness and apathy. Sadly however, it also exposed us a nation of hypocrites and praise singers.
Without mincing words, let it be stated loud and clear that we Ghanaians are the cause of this gross indifference and callousness by our parliamentarians. Shamelessly We enabled these legislators to do as they please without due consideration for the nation’s financial health and by and large without any regard for our financial and economic wellbeing, not to mention concern for the country’s desperate need for good hospitals, good schools, solid bridges and motorable roads.
For far too long, we massaged the inflated egos of our MPS by treating them with kid gloves, needlessly heaping praise on them while overlooking their numerous shortcomings and faults. Emboldened, our MPs felt pampered and spoilt to the point where they became swollen headed and impervious to our needs and concerns.
Thinking Ghanaians are gullible, non-complaining creatures, the MPs subsequently engaged in behaviors that were fundamentally at variance with our core values. They act without any compunction, or fear of repercussions from the public.
Otherwise, how do you explain away their quest for the good things in life, like the proposed new 200 million dollars luxurious chamber with a restaurant, a church, a mosque, a parking lot, a library, a museum, and an assortment of other
Or the substantial amounts of money doled out to them as pension when they are no longer legislators? Little surprise that public anger against the project has rubbed some MPs the wrong way; just listen to the utterances of a few of them on the proposed chamber and eat your heart out.
One member said parliamentarians should not sit under trees, and yet another well fed and pampered MP blurted out this nonsense: “democracy is not cheap.” I am not surprised by the outbursts from these cosmopolitan elites. They are desperately fighting to protect the status quo that tilts to a large degree in their favor.
If Ghanaians had not reacted strongly to this latest charade by parliament, the proposal, like that for the National Cathedral, would have seen the light of day at a huge cost to the country taxpayers.
It is gratifying that Ghanaians have found their mojo — the inner strength to question their political representatives. That is one remarkably good thing about democracy.
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