The Divisional Chief of Kojokrom in the Essikadu Ketan Traditional Area in the Western Region, Nana Panyin Yena IV has asked constituents to desist from demanding financial support from ministers and other government officials.
According to him, the practice is a disincentive to the development of the area.
He said such excessive demands on Ministers causes fear and as such, many of them avoid visiting their homes and constituents.
Nana Panyin Yena IV made the appeal when the Minister for Railway Development, Joe Ghartey, who is also the Member of Parliament for Essikado-Ketan paid a courtesy call on him.
“Ministers and MPs are not able to go to their constituencies because they know there will be a queue waiting for them for personal demands. Indeed, we may have voted for his party, they have their own responsibilities as ministers so if a minister is welcomed with all these all the time, he will not want to set foot in his home or constituency and this may hinder development.”
Citizens making demands of Ministers and Members of Parliament is not a new phenomenon in Ghana, some MPs have complained about pressure to support their constituents financially.
The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Joseph Osei Owusu in 2017 appealed to Ghanaian to reduce their financial demands of Ministers and MPs since the situation is overburdening them.
He said some constituents describe their MPs as wicked because they are unable to meet their financial demands.