Member of Parliament for Okaikoi North, Mr. Patrick Yaw Boamah, has indicated that the newly proposed Parliamentary Chamber is not an immediate priority.
Mr. Boamah averred that the timing of the proposed ultramodern complex is wrong and that Ghanaians have pressing needs.
He explained that most of the constituencies, including Okaikoi have a lot of challenges that ought to be addressed.
Addressing the Parliamentary Press Corp at a press briefing, Mr. Boamah pointed out that it will be difficult for him to address his constituents on such a dicey matter if basic things have not been provided in his constituency.
“I have lots of challenges in my constituency. How am I going to answer a question of this nature to my people?”, he lamented.
The Okaikoi MP who doubles as the Deputy Minister for Sanitation reiterated that the edifice can be constructed in the next four decades after the country has progressed to economic sustainability.
“I think first things first. Maybe in the next forty years when we are all okay, looking at the progression, the trajectory, we can have a monumental edifice. I am not for it now. It could be a matter for future discussion”, Mr. Boamah stated.
On Friday, June 28, 2019, officials from Adjaye and Associates paid a courtesy call to the leadership of Parliament, to discuss details of a proposed Parliamentary Chamber after it won the competitive tender.
The newly designed 450 MPs’ seater structure is expected to be located right in front of the premises of the current Parliamentary complex.
The main architect in charge of the project, Mr. David Frank Adjaye, explained that the project will be completed in three years if it begins before the end of the year 2019.
However, the Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Ocquaye, indicated that Parliament is yet to know the total cost required for the construction of the new edifice.
Meanwhile, the Majority Leader and the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu, indicated that the State does not intend to spend more than US$200 million on the new Chamber.
Source: GhanaJustice/S.Ayisi
