They’re standing for themselves, not us – Inusah Fuseini warns MPs over self-interest

Former Lands Minister and Tamale Central MP Inusah Fuseini cautioned that accusations of MPs focusing on personal interests could erode public trust in Parliament and Ghana's democracy. Speaking on Joy News' PM Express, Fuseini emphasized that the 276 MPs were entrusted with the responsibility to represent the interests of over 30 million Ghanaians.

He stated that concerns about lawmakers potentially using their positions for personal gain should be treated as a threat to democratic governance. "We have over 30 million people in this country; 276 have been privileged that, in between the times, four-year term, they take decisions on our behalf because we have trusted them to do so," he said.

Fuseini highlighted the significant responsibilities of MPs, including managing public finances, holding the Executive accountable, and enacting laws. He warned that when lawmakers begin viewing their mandate as a personal asset, it undermines the parliamentary role. "When the public begins seeing that these 276 persons that we have given the mandate to represent us and transact business on our behalf in Parliament, hold our purse, I mean hold the executive accountable, pass laws for us, are doing that for themselves, have commodified that mandate that we have given them, and are trading in that mandate," he said.

This conduct would damage the credibility of individual MPs and erode confidence in Parliament, he argued. The controversy involved Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin and Sammy Gyamfi, who accused each other of extortion, leading to a political dispute. Fuseini urged that the focus should not be on a single politician but on whether MPs are still prioritizing the collective interest of the people who elected them.

"If that person was sent to Parliament to ensure that the resources are used judiciously and prudently, and that person now thinks that all of us do not matter, in so far as his pocket is lined, then we are in trouble," he said. "Then the basic reason why we elected them in the first place goes, because they do not stand for us any longer; they are standing for themselves."

Fuseini emphasized that such pursuits of personal interests could undermine the constitutional promise of equal opportunity and national prosperity, as the pursuit of personal interests could disadvantage the entirety of Ghana.