Cletus Avoka On Why MPs Are Corrupt

The Member of Parliament for Zebilla East constituency in the Upper East Region, Hon Cletus Avoka has made public the incentive for the prevalence of corruption among lawmakers in the country.

According to the 72-year-old former Minister for Interior, the canker emanates from outrageous public demand for money from their representatives in parliament.

“Everyday MoMo. Somebody is sick in the hospital, you have to send MoMo. Someone is doing wedding you have to send MoMo. They are going to do outdooring, they are asking for money, they are asking for school fees,” he lamented during an interview with GhOne TV.

According to him, legislators who fail to honour such demands are voted out by the constituents and delegates.

“Many of us lose primaries and elections not because we are not doing good work but because we are not giving money out… If I’m not corrupt, how do I maintain my seat? You have to be corrupt one way or the other. You have to look for more resources. To look for resources, I have to go out to look for a contractor, and do some work for him.”

He posited that many of the MPs who end up spending just one or two terms in office do not dash money.

Hon Avoka is counting his last days in Parliament as he will not contest the seat anymore.