Mr John Akolgo Tia, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Talensi Central Constituency in the Upper East Region, has stated that he would review the expenditure of his Common Fund on the sponsorship of students in his area.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga at the weekend, the MP explained that in reality the MPs Common Fund was basically meant for the development of communities and not for sponsoring of students, whose parents could take care of them.
The MP, who is also the Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, said for the past three years he had been spending almost about 80 per cent of his portion of the Common Fund on sponsoring Students.
He indicated that people were now abusing the sponsorship package instituted, stressing that
"there are parents who are capable of paying the fees of their wards, yet they refuse to do so,
putting pressure on the Fund".
Mr Tia said he would review the sponsorship package for students under his Common Fund
to ensure that students who were really in need were sponsored and not students whose parents
were capable of paying for their fees.
On development, the MP indicated that he was putting up a lot of development projects in his
constituency, including the construction of a library complex at Sheiga and a Vocational School
and Clinic at Duusi.
He said in the last two years he had constructed 12 dugouts and 20 wells as well as a number of schools, while others were ongoing.
The MP said he has a vision to develop the area with other stakeholders, including the District Assembly in his bid to turn the district into one of the best among the nine districts.
He advised students in the area, especially those in tertiary institutions to take their studies seriously and to avoid indulging in negative practices such as violence and
other anti-social lifestyles.
He advised the youth to preach peace wherever they found themselves and not to allow any
politician or individuals to use them to foment trouble.