Parliament to develop Pension Scheme for retired MPs
31-05-2019The Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Prof. Aaron Michael Oquaye has directed the House Committee to take immediate steps in setting up a Pension Scheme for Members of Parliament.
The Committee is expected to work hand-in-hand with the Majority and Minority Chief Whips of the House to ensure that the proposed Pension Scheme becomes a reality.
It is also expected to examine other welfare matters to take care of former MPs and those who go retirement after their tenure of service.
“Hon. Members, it is important for us to seriously consider matters relating to former Members of the House. We all know that the lives of many former Members are not as we would like to see. In fact, it pains me personally to see how we look like after we have served and people think these are people who are making money in this country. It is painful”, the Speaker noted.
The move will compliment an insurance package the House is working on with the State Insurance Company (SIC) for its Members.
Prof Oquaye’s directive follows a concern raised by the Member for Pusiga, Hajia Laadi Ayamba on the floor of House about the poor living conditions of former legislators.
The Pusiga MP was contributing to a statement made by Majority leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu eulogizing Dr Kwabena Adjei, a former a Majority leader of the House who died recently.
According to Hajia Ayamba, the deceased contributed significantly to Ghana’s democratic dispensation but was unfortunately neglected and forgotten.
The very emotional Speaker urged the current lawmakers to be guided by the poor living conditions of former MPs to enable them put their houses in order before going on retirement.
“We all know that it is more true than what has even been said but we don’t do anything about it – we don’t see it. Unfortunately, the public office even don’t sympathize with us”, he added.
Dr. Kwabena Adjei, a former Majority Leader of Parliament and Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) was a pioneering legislature when the fourth republican constitution was birthed.
