The Member of Parliament for Obuasi West, Kwaku Kwarteng, has criticised the growing wealth disparity in Ghana, where political elites amass riches while ordinary citizens endure economic hardship.
As Chairman of Parliament’s Budget Committee, Mr. Kwarteng delivered a scathing assessment of the situation, urging political leaders to demonstrate genuine service rather than plundering limited resources meant for national development.
His remarks echo widespread concerns about inequality and privilege within Ghana’s political class, calling for a complete overhaul of the current system that allows politicians to enrich themselves while the populace suffers.
Commenting on the lavish incentives enjoyed by politicians, including substantial car loans, perks, and other benefits, Mr. Kwarteng emphasised the urgent need to end such practices in an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Wednesday, May 22.
“In the last campaign, you visited places, and the youth say ‘you people’—and they say that with venom. When you look at the results, even in the stronghold of the opposition, Ghanaians generally are beginning to view politicians with a more negative attitude.”
“If we continue on this path, our democracy will not survive, and what we will see is its replacement with something far worse,” he warned.
Mr. Kwarteng lamented Ghana’s increasingly selfish society, where individuals prioritise personal gain at the expense of others.
“When you are in a position to appropriate everything for yourself, you do so,” he remarked, noting that the country’s leaders are the primary culprits in this troubling trend.
“It is in our own interest, and that of the country, to fix this problem,” he asserted. “As politicians, we are providing the wrong kind of leadership, and it is leading this country into danger. Unless we change course, we, the political elite, will be the biggest victims.”
The 2024 national budget highlights this imbalance, with 71.8% of allocations directed toward compensation, leaving minimal funding for capital expenditure, social infrastructure, employment, and development projects.
Mr. Kwarteng, a former Deputy Finance Minister, expressed deep concern over Ghana’s economic mismanagement.
“The current situation is unsustainable. A country like Ghana has visited the IMF 17 times. We mismanage our resources, engage in reckless expenditures, and borrow heavily—yet the citizens bear the brunt.”
“We will reach a point where the people will no longer tolerate this,” he cautioned, stressing that such behaviour reinforces the perception that democracy only benefits a select few political elites and their associates.
To avert potential unrest, Mr. Kwarteng proposed a new direction focused on equitable development.
“We must first lead by example. Change must begin with the political class, rebuilding trust through integrity.”
“It is possible for a critical mass within the political class to demand real reform,” he added, acknowledging that many are already uncomfortable with the status quo and the self-serving allocation of incentives.
He urged Ghana’s leaders to emulate transformative figures like Margaret Thatcher of the UK and Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew, whose disciplined leadership brought lasting progress to their nations.
Mr. Kwarteng’s remarks underscore a growing frustration among Ghanaians, particularly the youth, who are increasingly disillusioned with a political system perceived as self-serving and detached from the struggles of ordinary citizens.
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