Incumbent Member of Parliament for the Bolgatanga Central constituency, Hon. Akolbire Opam-Brown, has asked constituents not compare him to other Members of Parliament who are ministers of state.
Hon Akolbire Opam-Brown has come under heavy criticism from his constituents who are questioning why he has over the years been invisible as compared to his colleague members of Parliament from the Upper East region.
But the Member of Parliament speaking at the NDC’s constituency office in Bolgatanga Saturday when he was there to file his nomination forms argued that he has not been visible because he is not a minister like his other colleagues.
Hon. Opam-Browm argued that, because most of his other colleagues Members of Parliament occupy various ministerial positions, they are always called upon to address issues on various platforms hence their visibility.
“The people they are comparing me with including Navrongo MP, Ayariga, Haruna Iddrisu, Agalga and co. They are all ministers so ask them am I a minister” he asked.
He added that his colleague MP’s who are visible and vociferous are ministers and have the opportunity to talk because they always have to respond to issues bothering on their ministries.
He noted that he usually appear on National TV to address issues of concern and everyone who pays close attention to GBC’s GTV can attest to that fact.
“Every Friday I am on GTV defending the party and talking about parliament and things that the party is doing. Tell me how many of you here have not seen me on GTV. I talk in pariliament and most of the talking is done at the committee level” he added.
He noted that being invisible has not affected his duty to his people hence arguments of his invisibility is unfounded and needless.
He also debunked assertions that he does not qualify to be a minister that is why he has not been appointed Minister since he went to Parliament on the ticket of the governing NDC in 2008 and 2012.
“All 275 of us MP’s cannot be ministers at the same time. I can hear some of you sitting on radio and saying that because I am not qualified that is why they have not made me a minister. That is not true. My CV is with the executives and those who want to know what qualifications I have, I will not say it here because I know you will not vote for me because of my qualification. You are going to vote for me because of what I am doing for Bolga. As far as qualification is concern I am very much qualified” he noted.
Hon. Akolbire Opam-Brown is contesting in the upcoming NDC primaries slated for November 7 to seek a re-election to represent the party in next year’s parliamentary election for Bolgatanga central constituency after winning two previous parliamentary elections consecutively.
By: Offei-Akoto Ayeh | A1radioonline.com | Ghana
