Former Lands Minister and former Tamale Central Member of Parliament Inusah Fuseini has warned that allegations of lawmakers pursuing personal interests over the public good could seriously undermine public trust in Ghana’s Parliament and democratic institutions.
Mr Fuseini said the issue should not be viewed simply as a dispute involving individual politicians but as a broader concern about the integrity of Parliament and the responsibility entrusted to elected representatives.
His comments come amid allegations of extortion involving Members of Parliament, including claims surrounding former Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin and National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communications Minister Sammy Gyamfi. The allegations have since developed into a legal and political dispute.
Inusah Fuseini questions MPs’ commitment to constituents
According to Mr Fuseini, Ghanaians have entrusted Members of Parliament with significant responsibilities, including representing their interests, overseeing public resources and holding the Executive accountable.
He noted that the country has more than 30 million people, yet only 276 elected MPs are given the mandate to make decisions on behalf of citizens in Parliament.
He argued that when lawmakers begin prioritising their personal interests over the collective interest of the people, they risk undermining the very mandate given to them by voters.
Mr Fuseini said such conduct would mean MPs were no longer genuinely representing the people who elected them.
“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.”
He said the alleged conduct should therefore be treated as a serious democratic concern rather than reduced to an issue involving one particular MP.
‘We are in trouble’ if MPs put personal interests first
The former Tamale Central MP further warned that Parliament could face a serious credibility crisis if elected representatives use their positions to advance personal financial interests.
He said MPs are expected to ensure that public resources are managed judiciously and prudently, rather than pursuing benefits for themselves at the expense of citizens.
Mr Fuseini stressed that if an MP entrusted with protecting the public purse instead becomes focused on having his or her own “pocket” lined, the consequences could extend beyond the individual involved.
“That not only undermines their legitimacy, it also undermines and erodes public confidence and public trust in that institution,” he said.
A concern beyond Afenyo-Markin
Mr Fuseini urged Ghanaians to look beyond the personalities involved in the current allegations.
He argued that the central question should be whether Parliament, as an institution, continues to uphold the trust placed in it by the electorate.
For him, focusing exclusively on Alexander Afenyo-Markin would miss the wider democratic implications of allegations that MPs may be using their positions for private benefit.
“We should treat what we are hearing not as Alexander Afenyo-Markin, but as a serious concern that goes to the root of our democracy,” he said.
Impact on Ghana’s democratic institutions
Mr Fuseini also linked the issue to Ghana’s constitutional commitment to promoting the welfare and prosperity of its citizens.
He warned that the principle of collective national interest could be seriously weakened if public officials consistently put personal interests ahead of the needs of the wider population.
His comments add to growing public debate about accountability, corruption and the conduct of public officials, particularly the responsibility of MPs to protect the interests of their constituents.
The former minister’s warning ultimately centres on public trust: when citizens believe their representatives are using public positions primarily for personal gain, confidence in democratic institutions can suffer.
