A member of the Parliamentary Service Board has said the current chamber for parliamentarians is not ideal for their work.
Hackman Owusu Agyeman argued that legislators need a facility that will help them in their work but not the current chamber.
The Chairman of the Council of Elders of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) told JoyNews’ Emefa Apawu on ‘The Probe’ that "It was necessary to build a better place just like we built a new place for the courts.
“Parliament is a tenant of the state protocol. We do not own a single property.”
Anger on social and mainstream media was simmering since it emerged plans by the Parliamentary Service Board were being made to build a new $200 million chamber in July last year.
A protest against the decision had been planned for July 13, 2019.
Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who strongly supported the construction of the chamber, granted many media interviews cataloguing reasons why the decision was a sound one.
He was forced by the palpable anger of the general public, including residents of his Suame constituency to beat a retreat, announcing no firm decision had been made in respect of the building of the new chamber.
The Parliamentary Service Board later announced a decision to drop plans to build a 450-seat chamber.
The Acting Director of Public Affairs of Parliament, Kate Addo, told Joy News’ the concerns of the people is paramount and have been taken into consideration in reaching the decision.
But Hackman Owusu Agyeman, who is also the former New Juabeng North MP, believes the chamber is needed to facilitate the work of MPs.
According to him, the failure to ascertain the views of citizens by government facilitated the negative reactions received.
“It was heartbreaking in seeing the reaction of Ghanaians. The PR was not well handled and the views of the people were not sought,” he stated.
Latest Stories
-
George Twum-Barimah-Adu pledges inclusive cabinet with Minority and Majority leaders
36 mins -
Labourer jailed 5 years for inflicting cutlass wounds on businessman
37 mins -
Parliament urged to fast-track passage of Road Traffic Amendment Bill
37 mins -
Mr Daniel Kofi Asante aka Electrician
38 mins -
Minerals Commission, Solidaridad unveils forum to tackle child labour in mining sector
43 mins -
Election 2024: Engagement with security services productive – NDC
44 mins -
Retain NPP for the good of Ghana – Rebecca Akufo-Addo
45 mins -
‘Let’s work together to improve sanitation, promote health outcome’ – Sector Minister urges
46 mins -
Ellembelle MP cuts sod for six-unit classroom block at Nkroful Agric SHS
49 mins -
‘I’ll beat the hell out of you if you misbehave on December 7’ – Achiase Commanding Officer
51 mins -
AFPNC leads the charge on World Prematurity Day 2024
57 mins -
Court remands unemployed man over theft of ECG property
1 hour -
Election security rests solely with the police – Central Regional Police Command
1 hour -
NCCE engages political youth activists at Kumbungu on tolerance
1 hour -
‘In Mahama’s era students lacked chalk, but are now receiving tablets’ – Bawumia
1 hour