NPP guru calls for scrapping of ex-gratia for 8th Parliament

Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu, former Member of Parliament for Bantama and previous Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, has urged the government to eliminate the payment of ex- gratia for members of the 8th Parliament.

His call, he stated, follows recent disputes in Parliament, which he attributes to obstructionist behaviour from the Minority Caucus.

Describing the Minority’s actions as deliberate sabotage, Dr. Kokofu accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs of using their numbers to block government business, thereby impeding national progress. According to Dr. Kokofu, the NDC’s agenda is to render the country ungovernable, ostensibly to diminish the government’s popularity.

In light of this, he asserted, “They cannot enjoy money they haven’t worked for; it should be scrapped.”

He further expressed disappointment with the Minority’s influence over the Majority, who, in his view, should be the primary decision-makers.

Dr. Kokofu contends that this dynamic reveals a preference for “party interest over national interest,” a trend he finds troubling.

He remarked that, while he supports the principle of Separation of Powers, he also stressed the importance of checks and balances, indicating that Parliament’s independence should not be misused for partisan gains.

“The real victims in all this,” he noted, “are ordinary Ghanaians. Those whom the Minority claims to represent are the ones bearing the brunt of their unpatriotic behaviour in Parliament.”

Dr. Kokofu’s remarks highlight the increasing friction between the two sides of Parliament, raising questions about the impact of such divides on governance and national stability.

He spoke during the campaign tour of the NPP’s runningmate in the Western North Region.