Former
Member of Parliament for Asokwa, Maxwell Kofi Jumah has given credence
to assertions that Members of Parliament take bribes before executing
their official duties to individuals and organizations in the country.
Hon. Maxwell Kofi Jumah, speaking to Peacefmonline.com
on the issue of bribery, backed claims by Member of Parliament for
Nadowli/Kaleo, Alban S.K. Bagbin, that some Parliamentarians accept
bribes.
Hon. Bagbin was quoted to have said "MPs are Ghanaians
and there is evidence that some MPs take bribes and come to the floor
and try to articulate the views of their sponsors…This is because in
Ghana we have not developed what we call lobbying. There are rules;
there are ethics regarding lobbying and we in Ghana think that lobbying
is taking money, giving it to MPs and writing pieces for them to go
articulate on the floor. That is bribery."
But according to Mr.
Kofi Jumah, there is nothing wrong in an MP being offered a token for
appearing at a function or for any work done and such is called
"lobbying."
He explained that lobbying an MP in the country is a
"legitimized bribe". He however rejected claims that Parliamentarians
desirably take what Ghanaians describe as bribes before carrying out
their duties.
To him, if an organization or individual gives him
an amount of about "200 GHC for attending a workshop” or for transport,
he will not “consider that as bribe because the money is so small that
it will not affect my judgement. It can’t affect my judgement…It’s not
the type of money that can compromise someone. I mean 200 GHC is small
change to me. You can’t influence me with 200 GHC.”
“Lobbying is
legitimized bribery…If we don’t take care; it will grow wings and might
affect the work of Parliamentarians to perform efficiently… So, I agree
with (Hon.) Bagbin in that instance."
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