Ghana Centre of for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has added its voice to calls for parliament to reconsider moves to construct a new chamber.
This is in reaction to parliament’s plan to build a 450-seat chamber at the cost of $243million, an initiative which has agitated most Ghanaians especially on social media.
CDD-Ghana in a statement issued today, describes the decision as a misplaced priority.
They indicated that current chamber of parliament is well furnished; hence there is no need for the construction of a new one. Rather, parliament should focus on initiating legislative solutions to public problems and exercise meaningful oversight of the executive and public administration.
“What Parliament lacks but needs to make a credible part of a system of constitutional checks and balances and a true policymaking partner to the Executive are not mere fancy brick-and-mortar; but to assume its proper place in our governmental system through appropriate institutional powers, prerogatives, and self-governing rules that would enable Members to initiate legislative solutions to public problems and exercise meaningful oversight of the Executive and public administration.”
CDD-Ghana is of the opinion that the plan to construct the new chamber paints the picture of a government which is out of touch with the needs of its citizens.
In the face of the numerous basic needs facing communities across the country, including a lack of safe and decent physical structures, facilities, and fixtures for many basic schools, a chronic shortage of beds in public hospitals, the deplorable condition of many of the country’s roads, and sundry other basic infrastructural and material deprivations facing various populations of citizens, construction of a new edifice for Parliament is a clear case of misplaced priorities.
Story by: Karen Quaye/Radiogoldlive.com
