Veep Bawumia hints of new chamber for Parliament

The government is to consider the possibility of building a new chamber for Parliament to avoid interruptions in the work of the House, Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia has stated.

He gave the assurance in response to a request by the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye, when he (the Vice-President) went to Parliament House to see the extent of damage to the roofing which was ripped off by the storm that hit parts of Accra last Tuesday night.

The removal of parts of the roofing sheets resulted in a leakage in the chamber, forcing the Minority members to leave the chamber during deliberations on the Local Governance (Amendment) Bill 2017.

But the Majority stayed through the deliberation to pass the bill, which restored the power of the President to revoke the appointment of government appointees to district assemblies.

Parliament is key

Dr Bawumia said the work of Parliament was very crucial to the governance of the country, hence the need to support the House to work without any hitches.

"Parliament, the legislative body, is key to this whole country and I think it is very important that its duties or activities  are not interrupted, and this is what we will make sure is the case.

"I will brief the President on what has taken place when he arrives. I am sure that we will look at this whole issue of another chamber very seriously. It is very important that the work of Parliament continues," he said.

Work in progress

Vice-President Bawumia said he was happy that the damage was not extensive and that some measures had been taken to contain the situation before a permanent roofing was put in place.

"I am happy to see the consultants and other actors still around trying to repair the damage. I am glad that you (the legislators) are going to sit later today, so that you will continue to do the people's business," he said.

Dr Bawumia said he was excited that both the Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, and the Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, were around, and indicated that the development was good because "we are together — one Ghana, one people trying to do the people's business".

Speaker on damage

Prof. Oquaye said all the relevant people were in the process of repairing the damage to provide the necessary ambience for the House to continue its work.

"Members are ready to work from the Majority and the Minority sides. We trust that we will continue to have your support," he said.

He said the damage to the roofing was an expression of the fact that Parliament needed a new chamber.

The Speaker expressed the hope that "at the appropriate time we (the House) shall have the ears of the Executive".