#DropThatChamber march suspended

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The march, dubbed:#DropThatChamber in opposition to Parliament’s decision to construct a new parliamentary enclave for $200 million has been called off, after the House halted the idea.

The march was slated for Saturday, July 13, 2019.

“It is the conviction of this group and millions of Ghanaians that the current Parliament building is good enough to serve the legislature for years to come and therefore do not expect this project to be brought up again, anytime soon,” the  2 Million March, a pressure movement organising the march said in a statement.

Ghana’s parliament was considering building a new ultramodern chamber to serve the lawmakers.

The Parliamentary Service Board had already received the architectural model for the new chamber from renowned Ghanaian architect David Frank Adjaye, the same designer of the National Cathedral.

The 450-seater chamber would come with a chapel, mosque, restaurant, and a museum. The current chamber houses 275 seats for MPs.

A massive opposition to the project by Civil Society Organisations and Ghanaians compelled Parliament to drop plans to construct the new 450-seater parliamentary chamber.

The decision to shelve the project was made after a meeting of the Parliamentary Service Board considering the massive social media campaign and public uproar against the decision that was expected to cost in excess of 200 million dollars.

Below is the full statement

#Dropthatchamber march suspended

The 2 Million March, a Ghanaian Pressure Movement’s attention has been drawn to Parliament’s decision to suspend the $200 million new Parliamentary enclave project.

From the press release by the Parliamentary Service Board, it was indicated that the decision to suspend the project came as a result of pressure from Ghanaians, who did not find the project an appropriate use of the State’s limited resources, considering the many dire problems facing our dear country.

We welcome the suspension with caution and remain vigilant and steadfast in our commitment to demand accountability from our government and leaders. Should

Parliament make any attempt to implement this project in the future, at a time citizens deem inappropriate, we shall once again, come together and make a stand against it.

Going forward, we implore our law makers to focus on finding solutions to the myriad of problems facing the ordinary Ghanaian. We further beseech legislators to justify their inclusion in Parliament.

We wish to extend our appreciation to all Ghanaians who responded to our call to put pressure on Parliament in the campaign dubbed #DropThatChamber. Your power and voices earned us this victory. Your support and courage are evidence that today’s citizens are ready to demand accountability from leaders.

Following the suspension of the Parliamentary enclave project, the #2miIIionMarch movement will like to inform the general public, that our demonstration slated for Saturday, July 1 3, 201 9, has been suspended.

It is the conviction of this group and millions of Ghanaians that the current Parliament building is good enough to serve the legislature for years to come and therefore do not expect this project to be brought up again, anytime soon.

We urge the legislature to take a cue from the massive public outcry against the project and take this into consideration in all its dealings, because Ghanaians will be watching.

Our sincere appreciation goes to all media houses who stood with us, to help propagate this message. You are allies in the drive for a better Ghana.

God bless our homeland Ghana.

Signed:

Rasheeda Adams

Convener

#2miIIionGhanaiansMarch

Source: Daily Mail GH