Coronavirus: Parliament asks staff to take mandatory annual leave

Enoch Darfah Frimpong Politics Mar - 24 - 2020 , 17:59 2 minutes read

The Parliament of Ghana has asked all of its staff to take their mandatory annual leave with immediate effect as part of measures to help prevent the communal spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Ghana.

The Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Ocquaye in a notice on Tuesday, March 24, 2020, for urgent implementation asked all staff except where they have been identified as providing essential services critical to the legislative business currently taking place in the House, or a matter referred by the House for an urgent consideration are to proceed on their annual leave with immediate effect.

The notice goes to say that, "similarly all officers on contract or temporary appointment, national service persons, MP research assistants and other ancillary service providers working in the premises are required to take their leave and or keep away from the Parliamentary precincts except where they have been identified by the Human Resources Department as providing critical services to ensure the smooth operation of business."

It adds that: "individuals intending to visit any person in Parliament should visit the person at home or communicate electronically. No visitors are allowed in Parliament unless otherwise stated."

It said the above measures were meant to decongest Parliament for the safe conduct of essential business and that MP research assistants whilst at home are to continue to provide services to the MPs through the internet and that Marshall assisted by the Security Unit should regularly monitor attendance and inspect the various offices to ensure full compliance as far as this directive is concerned.

"The acting Clerk to Parliament is to coordinate the implementation of the directive and that members of staff are assured that their salaries and other allowances due them will be paid through their individual bank accounts and that heads of various departments as well as members of staff, national service persons, research assistants and all others are admonished to strictly comply with this directive or will be severely sanctioned," the Speaker of Parliament said.