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Ghana’s president Nana Akufo-Addo is against the construction of a new 450-seat new parliamentary chamber in the capital Accra.
The chamber, which will cost $200 million, has sparked huge public outcry in the West African country supported by an effective social media campaign dubbed: #DropThatChamber.
An estimated number of two million Ghanaians are expected to march on July 13 against the decision.
According to pro-NPP newspaper the Daily Statesman, President Akufo-Addo is totally against moves by Parliament’s leadership and other senior figures in the House to embark on building the new chamber.
The proposed chamber, which parliamentary leaders hoped to build within three years, has a mosque, restaurant, chapel and a museum among other facilities. They argued that the present chamber in State House was not fit for purpose because it lacks adequate facilities and poses certain security risks.
However, credible sources from within the Presidency and close to senior ministers say President Akufo-Addo has clamped down on the project.
“The President is intent on ensuring that the government focuses on its priority projects – roads, education and training, agriculture, rural development, water and housing,” said one top-level source. “The proposal for this building project hasn’t even come to cabinet for discussion, let alone been given cabinet approval.
“The major announcements of business in the last two weeks will tell you where the focus of this government is.”
ARRESTS
Ghanaian police have released three persons who protested in Parliament on Friday against the new 450-seat chamber under consideration.
The trio believed to be members of the pressure group, Economic Fighters League, led by Ernesto Yeboah, protested in the public gallery during proceedings.
They have been granted bail and are due to report again on Monday.
According to eyewitnesses, they were shouting “we don’t need any new chamber.”
Civil Society Organisations such as the CDD-Ghana and pressure group OccupyGhana have also condemned the idea.
Source: Daily Mail GH
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