MP for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, has justified the expenses linked to recalling Parliament, emphasizing the significance of such sessions for Ghana’s democratic process.
In an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show with Caleb Kudah on Friday, November 8, Mr Ayariga addressed public concerns regarding the reported GH¢1 million cost per recall.
He argued that this expenditure is a necessary investment to preserve Ghana’s constitutional democracy, contrasting it with the costs of living under a military regime or dictatorship, which he believes would bring greater harm to the country’s stability and development.
The topic drew attention after Tamale Central MP, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, disclosed that each parliamentary recall costs around GH¢1 million, igniting a national discussion on the financial implications, particularly amid Ghana’s current economic difficulties.
The conversation intensified after Speaker Alban Bagbin’s decision to adjourn Parliament indefinitely on Thursday, November 7. Some members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) questioned whether the expense is warranted, given the strain on state resources.
In response, Ayariga upheld that these costs are essential for maintaining democratic values. He asserted that convening Parliament, even at a considerable expense, is necessary for promoting critical debate, safeguarding citizens’ rights, and supporting Ghana’s commitment to a stable constitutional government.
“You cannot place value on when the constitution is protected, when the constitution is defended and when people stand up to make sure that we imbibe the appropriate constitutional culture that should inform the governance of this country.
“You cannot place monetary value and calculate and say this is how much it costs and so when a practice takes place, it might appear to have cost money but we know what it costs us to live under military regimes.
“We now have a constitution and it says Parliament can be convened and Parliament can adjourn and people have the right to demand that it should be convened and this is how we go about it and all that will cost money, but it is far better than military rule and dictatorship, and so you cannot place real monetary value on it.”