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A former Convention People's Party (CPP) Youth Organiser and Convernor for Economic Fighters League (a pressure group) has been arrested by the Parliamentary Protection Unit of the Ghana Police Service for misbehaviour in the Public Galary of Parliament.
According to Peace FM's parliamentary correspondent, Emmanuel Akorli, Ernesto Yeboah suddenly got up in the chamber and started shouting "drop that chamber, drop that chamber" together with other two people.
Plain cloth Police officers in the public gallery quickly apprehended him.
Economic Fighters League picketing in Parliament was a precursor to the planned demonstration on July 13 against the project in collaboration with #DropThatChamber Campaign.
Critics of the development say Parliament’s priorities are misplaced given the standard of living in Ghana.
Protest in Parliament
Three protesters against plans to construct a new parliament have been arrested after screaming from the public gallery “drop that chamber”.
The three are all members of pressure group Economic Fighters League - Ernesto Kofi Yeboah, Abeiku Adams and a third who is yet to be identified.
They started chanting after NPP MP for Asokwa constituency in the Ashanti region, K.T Hammond justified the controversial plan insisting ‘MPs cannot sit under trees’.
KT Hammond made the comment during a discussion in parliament on the new chamber plans.
The discussion began after North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa asked the Majority Leader Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu when the House will be briefed on the new parliament complex.
The Majority leader had just read the Business statement for next week which did not contain any agenda on the unpopular plan to build a 450-seater parliament.
Public Outrage
The Parliamentary Service Board’s decision to construct a complex including a new 450-seater chamber has been a subject of public outrage.
Most Ghanaians are awed and enraged about the rationale behind the proposed facility, particularly when there are other more important needs of citizens; the likes of portable water, classroom blocks, employment etc.
According to them, building a parliamentary chamber in this current economic hardship state is unnecessary.
The project, expected to be funded partly by the Indian government with counterpart funding from the government of Ghana, when constructed, will consist of a 450-seater chamber, a chapel, mosque, restraint and a parliamentary museum.
Source: Emmanuel Akorli/Parliamentary Correspondent/Peace Fm
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Ghanaians, we are not serious. We only make unnecessary noise all the time, why? Puttig up Parliamentary Chamber for our own Parliamentarians and we are making unnecessary noise. The fact that your family members and relatives are poor does not mean that you should not eat chicken. Abrokwa and other MPs who are speaking against it are disgrace and hypocrates. Look at the number of Big Cars they are using in Ghana? Does it mean that they don't have poor people in their Constituencies? They should forgo all their big cars and give to the poor and stop that shameful noise. Less I forget, you Abrokwa, you spent huge amount on your Wedding whilst poor children were there and now you have a nerve to talk about the poor people.
So a member of parliament can say that "parliamentarians cannot sit under trees". Who can sit under trees? Our children in schools at the villages can sit under trees? Hmmmmm. Selfish parliamentarians.
You reasoning sounds u just forgot to take your psycho medicine. The E blocks NPP criticised is it used by Atta Mills' Children. We hu s3 we gyimie paaaa. By the way did KT Hammond say the MPs are sitting under trees. Asem beba debi
politicians are gradually becoming selfish, greedy and wasteful entities in our society. at times they bahave like people who don't think.
Concert boy Ernesto Yeboah. He wants to bolster his political carrier with these antiques. Some of us are now matured enough to see through these selfish populist tricks. Even the whole idea has been shelved already so what is the need for this misbehavior in parliament? If the parliament house was being expanded by his idol Kwame Nkrumah would he have gone to parliament to do this? Most of us raised our voice and insulted Kuffour for putting up the jubilee house, especially the NDC and they even swore never to use it but what happened. Most Ghanaians are too hypocritical. Most of us here insulting the MPs will readily and happily go and enjoy the luxury of the propose expanded parliament house if we get the opportunity to be MPs one day. Let us stop this hypocrisy and be truthful to ourselves.
#Dropthatchamber
THIS DRAMA POTRAYS HOW GHANAIANS DON,T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS CALLED DEMOCRACY,and WITH SUCH A POROUS SECURITY AND THE ONGOING INSECURITY IN THE COUNTRY.MR.BIG MOUTH SHATA AND STONE DISPLAYED THEIR IGNORANCE IN PUBLIC NOT GOAT SPOKE ABOUT IT BUT NOW LOOK AT THAT SKINNY CID DOING.may GOD FORGIVE U SO CALLED GHANA SECURITY AGENTS IN OUR MESS UP GHANA.
so what will be the charge or crime committed?
Well done Ernesto Yeboah. Ordinary people are behind you. Just imagine if NDC was constructing this building, the NPP and its cohorts would have gone all out to demand a halt to this. Well done! We are with you.
Ghanaian media.... Oh my God. Why give attention to him? I seriously oppose to this idea but we have laws in Ghana. You can't just walk to Parliament House to cause distractions. We can express our grievances without all this drama. unnecessary attention seekers!