My Satisfaction In Politics Is To Help My Constituents . . . It’s Never Been About Making Money - Majority Leader

Majority Leader of Parliament, Hon Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has defined his purpose of going to Parliament is to serve the needs of his constituents and also help in the development of the country through Parliamentary activities.

To him, the thought of making money in Parliament has never been part of his agenda since he joined Parliament in 1997, but rather the desire to serve his country, believing that he has lived up to that purpose with the help of God.

“I did not come into politics to make wealth and so I am not bowing out because I was not given a position which comes with wealth. When I was coming into politics, I did not say that I was coming to make money; but I came to serve my country and I believe that God has used me to be of help to my constituents and also used me to enrich Parliament with progress and that is the source of my joy for coming into politics,” he indicated.

Speaking on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister disclosed that since the inception of Parliament in 1993, the 7th Parliament of the 4th Republic under his leadership has performed more than any other Parliament in terms of making monumental laws for the country.

He counted it as a fulfilment of his purpose in Parliament that under his watch, a team of Parliamentarians with good hearts have helped him to achieve a great feat for Parliament and the country at large.

“There are monumental bills that we have done; we have done what we call Company’s Act to regulate the formation and operation of companies. When I came to Parliament in 1997, in 1998 the government in power could not do it, and then NPP came to power and Nana Akufo-Addo as Attorney-General wanted to do it but the issues involved was difficult, we could not do it then”.

“When NDC came back to power, the Attorney-General then Madam Marietta Brew Appiah wanted to introduce it but it did not happen but when Akufo-Addo became President, we made some changes in the bill and under my leadership, we have passed the bills and the stakeholders involved have praised us for the good job done”.

“We have also done the Corporate Insolvency Act, Lands Act and these are very monumental bills that we have done under my leadership in Parliament as Majority Leader and that is where my joy is and not making wealth,” he explained.

He, however, described as delightful as he learned from some of his colleagues serving on the same committee confessed to him as someone who strikes to them as a workaholic who never gets tired until an assignment is accomplished.

“We are preparing a certain bill for a certain university to honour Mr Akenten-Appiah Menka so that the University will be called Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Entrepreneurship and Skills Training . . . I had to leave for another meeting, assuring them that I will come back to continue with them after 45 minutes. When I came back to Parliament to continue the meeting with them, they had closed and when I asked of the rest of the members, I was told that they left because when I come, I will insist, we finish the meeting before we leave in the night”.

“I was a bit hurt but upon reflection on it, I was delighted by that comment that when it comes to working for Parliament to progress and that of the country, I work with a clean conscience and my whole heart, knowledge, and experience. I appreciated what they said about me,” he narrated.

He, therefore, made it clear that the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs is a service-rendering ministry and not a place of awarding contracts.

“ . . We don’t award contracts at the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs but we render service to the state and Parliament. We interface between the legislature and the Executive and then serve as a funnel by receiving issues from the public and give them to the Executive. So, that is the joy that I have in my life,” he stated.