Thursday, March 28, 2024

Ghana drops new parliament plan after public outrage

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Isaac Kaledzi
Isaac Kaledzihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Kaledzi
Isaac Kaledzi is an experienced and award winning journalist from Ghana. He has worked for several media brands both in Ghana and on the International scene. Isaac Kaledzi is currently serving as an African Correspondent for DW.

Lawmakers in Ghana on Monday dropped plans to sanction the building of a controversial new lawmaking chamber.

The 450 seater chamber was to replace the current one which houses the 275 members of the Ghana’s Parliament.

But there was a huge public outrage when the cost of the building estimated around $200 million was revealed.

The project was expected to commence before the end of 2019 and was to host a mosque, chapel, eatery and a parliamentary museum.

The project was being undertaken by internationally renowned Ghanaian architect, Sir. David Frank Adjaye.

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But on Monday the MPs decided to shelve the project due to the overwhelming rejection from the masses.

There were many lawmakers who kicked against the plan to build a new chamber.

Last week some protesters were arrested for calling for the project to be shelved.

Another military officer was reported to have been detained for also calling for the project to be suspended.

New parliament chamber in Ghana
The new parliament camber plan unveiled in Accra.

The majority leader in Ghana’s parliament Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu earlier defended the need for a new house.

“We will try explaining to them why we need this edifice but if after that people are still not in favour, we will then have no choice but to shelve it,” the Majority leader said in a media interview.

Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament had disclosed that President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo has already endorsed the project.

But sources within the presidency said President Akufo-Addo has joined calls for the project to be shelved for now.

 

 

Source: Africafeeds.com

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