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General News of Tuesday, July 9, 2019
Source: starrfm.com.gh
2019-07-09
The campaign comes as a result of the suspension of an event scheduled against the project
The Ghana Parliament has launched a campaign entitled "This is our Parliament #Letstalkmore", which aims to resurrect the controversial new parliamentary enclave, worth $ 200 million.
Civil society organizations and Ghanaians strongly opposed the project, forcing parliament to announce the project's closure on Monday, July 8.
The decision to put the project aside was made after a meeting of the Council of Parliamentary Services that examined the mbadive campaign on social media and the public outcry against that decision.
"Before the end of the projects, feasibility studies are completed, but you would realize that this new room is not feasible at the moment," said Kate Addo, Acting Director of Public Affairs of Parliament, Neat FM, based in Accra.
However, as a result of a dramatic coup, Parliament launched the campaign "This is our Parliament #Letstalkmore" to advocate for the construction of the new parliamentary enclave, the day after the announced stop.
The Council of Parliamentary Services had already received the architectural model of the new room of the famous Ghanaian architect David Frank Adjaye, the same designer of the national cathedral.
The 450-seat room would include a chapel, a mosque, a restaurant and a museum. The current chamber has 275 seats of deputies.
The Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) and the OccupyGhana lobby group condemned this idea, describing it as a "misplaced priority".
The CSD stated that the Parliament, in its current form, has "relatively sufficient resources".
On Friday, three members of the Economic Fighters League were arrested for protesting the new 450-seat room. The group leader and his accomplices got a deposit of 2,000 GHC with a deposit.
The League headed by its leader Ernesto Yeboah was demonstrating in front of the rostrum during the debates.
OccupyGhana, described the project as "inconsiderate" considering the level of difficulty in the country.
"The simple fact that, given all the problems that Ghana faces, our parliamentarians believe that a new chamber is of the utmost importance demonstrates a significant disconnect between number of people that". they are supposed to represent.
"We can not believe that Parliament and its leaders are even considering something so inconsiderate at a time when so many Ghanaians continue to struggle in this difficult and trying time. Even sadder is the fact that it undermines people's trust in the democratic process, "said the group.
At a rare appearance on early morning television on Wednesday, July 3, Majority Leader and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, defended the need for the new chamber. According to him, the argument that the new room is not a priority is unfounded.
"So, let's not really say that until we meet basic human needs, other things are luxurious. Let no one tell me that we may not be able to provide clothes for everyone, but not before we can provide adequate housing for everyone, these other things are luxury, "he said. GH Today, from GHOne TV.
Parliament's latest campaign to resurrect the construction of the controversial new parliamentary enclave is coming on the heels of the suspension of a planned demonstration against the project on 13 July.
March 2 organizers The March Million March said in a statement that the march was halted because of Parliament's decision to suspend the proposed $ 200 million new parliamentary enclave.
"We welcome the suspension cautiously and remain vigilant and resolute in our commitment to hold our government and our leaders accountable. If Parliament tried to implement this project in the future, at a time that the citizens would consider inappropriate, we will meet again and we will vote against it, "the statement said.
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