Proposed 450-seater parliamentary chamber has nothing to do with the executive – Majority Leader

Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has dismissed claims by a section of Ghanaians that the executive arm of government has sided parliament in the proposed 450seater chamber.

According to him, the proposal for a new 450-seater chamber has nothing to do with the executive arm of government.

Speaking at a press conference Thursday, the Majority leader said the reference made by some Ghanaians to a statement made by Vice President Dr Mahahmudu Bawumia in 2017 has nothing to do with the proposed new chamber.

He said the vice president supported the proposal for a new parliament after the legislature had made some presentations to him.

The Vice President in 2017 said “I paid a visit to parliament today to have a firsthand understanding of the extent to of damage Tuesday’s rainstorm caused the August house Rt. Hon Speaker got my assurance of government’s plans to construct a new chamber for effective parliamentary work”

This comment, the majority said was made after the vice president visited parliament to inspect the damages of a rainstorm which had ripped part of the roof of the house of legislature off resulting in the dripping of water into the main chamber.

“The proposal of the new chamber has nothing to do with the executive, we don’t want to let it appear as if it is the executive that is taking the decision for us. Nothing can be far away from the truth,” he said.

“It is not an executive decision,” he added.

Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensa-Bonsu indicated that Parliament acquiring a new 450-seater chamber has not been concluded.

He said “Financials, procurement have not been included. The agreement has not been firmed up and if the agreement has been firmed up it must come to parliament for approval”.

He added that parliament will factor the “sensibilities of the good people of this country” into whatever decision it comes out with.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com