The Majority Leader in Parliament, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has defended the intention of the Parliamentary Service Board (PSB) to construct a 450-capacity chamber for Parliament.
He said the proposed new new chamber was to provide enough space in the chamber for backbenchers to be positioned well to catch the attention of the Speaker, improve security arrangement, allow for the swearing in of elected Presidents in Parliament instead of the Black Stars Square and provide adequate seats for former Presidents, Vice Presidents, Justices of the Supreme Court and other guests of the Speaker.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra Thursday, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the Parliamentary Service Board (PSB) had not taken any final decision on the construction of the new chamber and that the discussions were at the incubation stage.
He said the financials, terms of contract and procurement had not been concluded and indicated that if the PSB firmed up its decision on the new chamber, that decision would have to be approved by Parliament.
He gave the assurance that Parliament would factor in the sentiments of the people in any decision that it would take on the issue of the new chamber.
He said if the overwhelming view of the people was for Parliament to shelve the idea of constructing a new chamber, Parliament would go along with the people.
"If it (the construction of the new chamber) has to be dropped, Parliament will make the final determination. If the people that we represent, say shelve it, so shall it be", he said.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu refuted claims that it was the decision of the Executive to push for the construction of the new chamber, and said it was solely a consideration of the PSB.
He apologised to MPs for the failure of the PSB to engage them.
He said the new Chamber is to house other facilities including diplomatic offices, a library, a museum, a church, a mosque, eateries, press conference rooms, galleries, a car park, an upper gallery garden, a post office and other facilities to complete the Parliamentary enclave.
Since the announcement of the construction of the proposed 450-capacity chamber at a meeting with the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye, the leadership of Parliament and architects for the project last Friday, the issue has generated intense debate in the traditional and social media.
Many people, including Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Majority and Minority sides had described the decision as a misplaced priority since there were more pressing issues, such as poor roads and challenging health care. There is even a social media calling on Parliament to drop the decision to construct the new chamber.
But some Majority MPs argued that having an expanded chamber would cater for any increase in the number of MPs in future.
Source: Daily Graphic
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I use to like this man but i think he has been around for too long. things have gotten into his head and he hast lost it completely. the fisrt person who ever thought of this idea should be jailed for even suggesting this project. most especially when we have to borrow to do it
MASTER YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR MIND, GETTING CHEAP MONEY TO PAY YOUR KIDS SCHOOL FEES MEAN THAT HOW ALL OF US ARE FAIRING, HAVE BEEN TO UK BEFORE ?? IS A BIG YES HOW DO YOU FIND THEIR PARLIAMENT HOUSE AND HOW MANY YEARS NOw???? YOU SEE HOW CLUSSY IT IS YET YOU WILL FIND SOME MPS SITING ON THE CARPET FLOOR DEBATING FOR THEIR PEOPLE THATS REAL PEOPLE WHO ARE INTUNE WITH PEOPLE IN DEED , NOT SO CALL "HONOURABLE" ITS PETTY WHY WONT THESE WHITE LAUGH ABOUT US EVERY TIME , WE THE CITIZENRY VOTE YOU PEOPLE THERE IF DON'T LISTEN TO THE MAJORITY OF GHANAIANS WE WILL SURELY BRING BACK TO OPPOSITION. IS THIS PRIORITY OF THE STATE?? HELL NO ROADS ARE BAD HOSPITALS LIGHTS ARE YOU PEOPLE THINK YOU CAN TAKE US FOR GRANTED, I BET NPP WILL COME BACK TO OPPOSITION AMEN !!
Our politicians defend unreasonable policies and decision just because of their 10% commission. Vote them out quickly if they go ahead with this nonsensical project.
FRANKLY SPEAKING SOME PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR BEARING IN LIFE. THEY THINK THEY WILL BE THERE FOREVER SO BUILDING A NEW PARLIAMENT HOUSE WILL HELP THEM.
H. A. P.P.Y = S.H.A.M.E
thats why we are blacks
Every voter should mark down those MPs who defends the New Parliamentary Project and kindly vote AGAINST such MPs Those MPs have lost their tracks and do not care for the voter anymore. Make good use of your thump in 2020
DROP! Moy3 kronooo ad3 dodo
the parliament is over populated. that is why MPs do not attend to parliament. we need to reduce the numbers in parliament for all those persons like the presidens, supreme court judges etc. to have seats. should the Speaker be announcing absenteeism all the time? no. we have to reduce the numbers in the house. we must show that the African can also reason small. it is always sad for me to be saying this, regrettably, that is the truth. the African can not manage his affairs. see the schools the children are attending...what is in the brain of the African leader? no!no!!!
this u,s.e.le,s,s project has no leg to stand on