President Nana Akufo-Addo is happy over Parliament’s decision to suspend the building of a new parliamentary chamber complex.
This comes after the massive pressure from Ghanaians for Parliament to boycott the decision.
Some groups had even planned to stage a demonstration to express their displeasure over the decision.
Speaking on the issue for the first time when he addressed the Ghanaian community in France, President Akufo-Addo said he is happy the project had been put on hold.
“I am happy to announce to you that, the latest controversy in Accra has also been brought to a conclusion. This is just about the decision by the Speaker of Parliament to build a new Parliament. I hear that the Parliament’s PRO announced that [plans for the parliamentary chamber] has been suspended. So there it is.”
Parliament caves in
A statement from Parliament on Monday said that its board, after reviewing presentations made to it by well-meaning Ghanaians, has accordingly taken the development “out of its present agenda.”
It however left open the possibility of Parliament returning to the proposed project which it says will “serve the purpose of Parliament.”
“The development of the Parliamentary enclave and a new chamber block and offices shall, however, remain an essential and integral part of the future plans of the Legislature in a bid to provide a strong, accountable, responsive and transparent Parliament to serve the purpose of Parliament.”
Public outcry
The decision to construct the chamber complex has been widely criticized by Ghanaians.
Some groups had threatened to stage a protest against the planned construction of the chamber.
The civil opposition to the project also accompanied criticism from legislators from both sides of Parliament.
Media arguments
The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Majority Leader, Osei
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu had assured that the interest of the public will be
considered in the final determination of the project.
He said the plans for the construction had not been finalised and were set for debate in Parliament.
“The process is not concluded and the financials have not been
concluded, procurement has not been concluded. The agreement has not
been firmed up because these ones have not been completed. If the
agreement is firmed up, it must come to Parliament for approval.”
But there have been contradictory signals from the arms of government on the project.
The President was scheduled to attend the sod cutting of the project in June according to a letter sighted by Citi News.
The letter signed by the Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Aaron Michael
Oquaye indicated that the ceremony was to be done in the last week of
June 2019, subject to the President’s convenience and confirmation.
The construction of a new parliamentary chamber complex was expected to begin before the end of 2019.
