Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, the former Member of Parliament for Tamale Central has tackled the minority leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin after he revived calls for the establishment of a new Parliamentary chamber.
According to Inusah Fuseini, Afenyo-Markin’s call for a new chamber at this crucial time in our economy is very misplaced.
He noted that even in 2019 when the country was not bankrupt, civil societies rejected the idea of a new Chamber.
Afenyo Markin speaking at the inauguration of the Parliamentary Service Board for the ninth Parliament on Monday, March 17 stated, “Indeed, when I visited the British Parliament, even within the chamber, there is enhanced security. Here in the public gallery, anybody at all can throw anything at an MP, and there is no security.
“Mr. Speaker, I am therefore looking forward to an enhanced security regime, and I am pleased to depart from this infrastructure. We can begin a conversation for a new chamber befitting the legislative arm of government”, he stated.
Speaking on Citi FM on Monday, March 17, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini stated, “The call for a new chamber at this crucial time in our economy is very misplaced. Even in 2019, when the country was not bankrupt, civil societies rejected the idea, arguing that it was not the time for a new chamber but rather a time to save the country from economic downturns”.
So to make that statement now, when the country is bankrupt and under IMF support and programs, is shocking. I don’t think such a proposal should have come from the Minority Leader at all”, he added.
The former MP further added, “A new chamber does not protect MPs in any way. Since the day I entered Parliament until today, there has been a massive improvement in security.
Scanners have been installed at both gates of Parliament to prevent people from entering without being scanned.
“It wasn’t like that before, so clearly, there have been improvements. Maybe in the future, when our financial situation improves, and we can balance our budget, make savings, and the country is prosperous, then we can consider spending money on such things,” he boldly added.
Meanwhile, Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, rejected the proposal by the Minority Leader, citing the current financial crisis of the state as the reason.
“I definitely don’t believe that a hospital is the priority of this Parliament, or should be the priority of this Parliament. Mr. Speaker, we are very close to the Ridge Hospital, which I personally believe is adequate to provide the services that the staff here will need.
And I don’t believe that at this stage in the finances of this country, we should have the political class building a hospital, especially for itself, and not wanting to mingle with ordinary Ghanaians and the facilities that they use.
“So I totally reject a proposal to construct a hospital for Parliament. We have a clinic which is in keeping with what most establishments have. And I believe that if anything at all, we should just improve upon the facilities and services of our clinic that provide basic services and when you need serious medical care, you can use the facilities at the Ridge Hospital. Korle Bu is not too far away from here”, he stated.
