VIDEO: Police release #DropThatChamber protesters

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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.”

The campaign

Ghanaians have launched a viral social media campaign against Members of Parliament (MPs) who are bent on having a 450-seater Chamber.

Ghana’s parliament is considering building a new ultramodern chamber to serve the lawmakers. The Parliamentary Service Board has 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 will come with a chapel, mosque, restaurant, and a museum. The current chamber houses 275 seats for MPs.

However, Ghanaians are enraged by the decision, arguing there are more pressing issues than a new complex for lawmakers and are planning to march to Parliament July 13 to register their reservations.

Civil Society Organisations such as the CDD-Ghana and pressure group OccupyGhana have also condemned the idea.

The campaign has been given social media hashtags: #DropThatChamber and #2MillionGhanaiansMarch

Meanwhile, an opposition MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has described the decision as needless.

In a Facebook post, Mr Ablakwa, who is the Minority spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, said: “I do not think Parliament needs a new chamber complex.

“If the views of all Members of Parliament were sought, I would have suggested we used some of those resources to beef up research staff of MPs who must be paid well in order to attract a good calibre and construct simple MP offices across the country to improve interactions with constituents as we have in other jurisdictions, especially at a time most constituents say they do not get to see their MPs. Respectfully, I do hope Mr Speaker will take a second look at this,” he said.

Source: Daily Mail GH