Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the outgoing Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, raised significant concerns regarding the upcoming challenges faced by Members of Parliament (MPs) from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 9th parliament. Apexnewsgh reports
As the NDC prepares to implement their strategy for a leaner government, which aims to limit the number of ministers to just 60, many MPs may find themselves without additional roles beyond their parliamentary duties.
Afenyo-Markin emphasized that this approach could lead to a troubling situation for approximately 140 NDC MPs, as only about 35-40 are expected to receive ministerial or deputy ministerial appointments.
He warned that the resulting lack of responsibilities could foster feelings of frustration among those MPs who will be left to manage their constituency demands with insufficient resources.
Drawing from his own experiences under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, Afenyo-Markin expressed his belief that the NDC’s decision might hinder their effectiveness in parliament, regardless of their majority status.
“NDC has an overwhelming majority in parliament, yet they have promised a lean government. I can foresee a lot of their MPs being redundant,” he stated. He further elaborated, “Out of their over 170 seats, if 35 or a maximum of 40 MPs serve as ministers and deputy ministers, they will be left with 140 MPs who are largely unutilized in their roles—relegated to merely attending sessions.”
As the new parliament session approaches, Afenyo-Markin painted a stark picture of the challenges awaiting NDC MPs. He highlighted the pressing demands from their constituents coupled with the lack of financial support that will likely result from their reduced ministerial appointments.
“These MPs will have to contend with their constituents’ needs, yet the financial resources to address those demands will fall short since only a few will hold ministerial roles, leading to potential conflicts,” he warned.
With these insights, Afenyo-Markin has left many wondering how the NDC will navigate the complexities of governance while remaining accountable to their constituents in the new parliamentary term.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
