Former MPs call for MPs’ pension scheme

Page 14, Oct 25,2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah

THE President of the Forum of Former Members of Parliament (FFMP), Mr Kosi Kedem, has called on Parliament to institute a pension scheme for Members of Parliament (MPs) in order to reduce their suffering and hardship when they leave the House.
Describing the life of the former MP as “not a pleasant one”, Mr Kedem reminded the President, Mr J.A. Kufuor, that the Hessey Committee’s report which determined the salaries of MPs of the Third Parliament of the Fourth Republic was yet to be implemented.
According to him, MPs were not paid their full salaries during the entire period of their tenure of office (2001-2004).
“Many former MPs are impoverished and crippled economically because of the delayed implementation of this report” he said, and appealed to the President to ensure the implementation of the report immediately.
Mr Kedem was speaking at the inauguration of the forum at the Speaker’s Conference Room in Parliament.
The forum is opened to all former MPs, dating back to the First Republic.
Although the FFMP, according to its executives, is made up of politicians, it is strictly a non-partisan organisation.
It has been formed, among other objectives, to bring together all former MPs, who are scattered all over the country to contribute to the deepening of the democratic process.
Mr Kedem appealed to the Speaker, the leadership of Parliament and colleague ministers to use their good offices and influence to urge the President to expedite action on the Hessey Committee’s Report.
Touching on the current political dispensation, he called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to provide a level playing field for all the political parties contesting the forthcoming elections to operate efficiently.
“The EC must assert its independence and integrity as well as manage the elections professionally”, he said.
Mr Kedem stated that members of the forum were delighted about the vibrant political parties, and noted that that was an indication that multi-party governance had come to stay.
He urged political parties to campaign on issues and devote less time to insults, mudslinging and empty propaganda.
Inaugurating the forum, the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, commended the former MPs for coming together to use their experiences for the deepening of the country’s democratic dispensation.
He pledged the assistance of Parliament to ensure the achievement of the objectives of the forum and called all former MPs to join the association.
Among some of the former MPs who attended the inauguration of the forum was an 82-year-old former MP for Suhum, Mr Kwaku Amoa-Awuah, who was an MP in the First Republic (1954-1956) and Nana Adarkwa-Yiadom, who was an MP for Kwame Danso in the Brong Ahafo Region during the Third Republic.
Mr Amoa-Awuah, who said he was now a retired businessman and farmer, told the Daily Graphic in an interview that he was proud to have served his country as an MP, Deputy Minister for Health, Agriculture and Minister for Labour.
For his part, Nana Adarkwa-Yiadom said that after the overthrow of Limann’s regime, MPs did not get any reward for their services to the nation.
Asked about what he wanted the government to do for him, he asked in a low tone; “my son, does a beggar has a choice ?”.