Ghana’s Parliament
Ghanaians are outraged about attempts by Parliament to build a new and bigger chamber of Parliament at the cost of some US$200m.
News broke last Friday that Ghana’s parliament is considering building a new ultramodern 450 capacity chamber to serve the lawmakers. The current chamber seats 275 MPs.
The Parliamentary Service Board has already received the architectural model for the new chamber from renowned Ghanaian architect David Frank Adjaye.
Justifying the idea, the Majority leader of Ghana’s Parliament; Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu the new chamber will provide security for MPs and improve the Speaker’s ability to see MPs blocked from view by pillars in the chamber. He also believes it is time for Parliament to get its own chamber after customising the State House for its work since 1992.
Many however are unhappy with the justifications and have taken to social media to lash the ruling government over the matter.
An activist group is also collecting signatures against the building of the new parliamentary chamber under the name; #DropThatChamber. The group has threatened to embark on a demonstration by 13th July, 2019 to pressure the government into halting the proposed project.
Many see this an opportunity to see how much the government respects the views of the citizenry.
Some Members of Parliament and other prominent members of the ruling party are against the decision fearing it is one that will make the government unpopular. Others say the timing is wrong whilst others believe it is the wrong use of the country’s resources considering the poverty that abounds in the economy.
The main opposition party the NDC Wednesday issued a statement against the building of the New Chamber. The statement signed by the NDC’s General Secretary; Johnson Asiedu Nketia suggested that the resources for the 450-seat chamber should rather be invested in providing potable water for the over 20 per cent of Ghanaians who live without clean water, as well as provide electricity for the 16 per cent of the people who live without electricity.
Not so long ago, the government generated controversy when it decided to construct a magnificent National Cathedral.
Many are still shocked at the idea, questioning the priorities of the government.
Whether or not Parliament will listen to the rants of the citizenry and abort the project or go ahead will only be known with the passage of time.
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