Ras Mubarak, a former Member of Parliament (MP) for the Kumbungu Constituency, has called for the enactment of legislation to regulate party campaign financing during electoral periods.
He emphasized that the absence of such legislation could potentially lead to unscrupulous individuals gaining power, which he believes could have severe repercussions for the country's development.
In light of recent allegations of vote buying during the Kumawu by-election, Ras Mubarak stressed the urgent need for campaign financing regulations.
He expressed concern over the exorbitant costs associated with parliamentary primaries, stating, “I don't see why primaries in Ghana should cost up to GH¢2 million. GH¢2 million is a lot of money, but people are paying GH¢2 million just to win parliamentary primaries.” He further highlighted that this extravagant expenditure often results in elected officials prioritizing personal interests over legislative duties.
Referring to the proceedings in Parliament, Ras Mubarak lamented the lack of active participation from some MPs, attributing it to the financial burdens they incur during the primaries.
He stated, “When we are doing legislation on the floor of Parliament, the house is almost always empty. Of those who got in there, the majority of them are not interested in the act of passing laws. Because they had spent so much to win their primaries… they are busy out there looking for money to keep up appearances.”
The former MP also expressed concern about the potential consequences of experienced lawmakers exiting Parliament. He highlighted the unfairness of some dedicated MPs losing their positions while others who contribute minimally or not at all continue to hold their seats.
He cited examples of notable individuals such as Joseph Yiele Chireh, former MP for Wa West, Ben Abdallah Banda, former Offinso South MP, and Mahama Shaibu, former MP for Daboya-Mankarigu, who made significant contributions during their tenure.
