The acting National Chairman of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), Mr John Amekah, has lauded the boldness of Ghanaians for demanding accountability from the country’s political leaders.
Citing the ongoing brouhaha over plans to construct the new
Parliamentary Chamber, he said the manner and way in which Ghanaians,
from all political divides, had risen against it demonstrated that the
people would not sit down and allow Parliament to implement programmes
that did not benefit them in any way.
“This new spirit from
Ghanaians deserves commendation. Parliament cannot just sit down and
take decisions that will bring comfort to them while the people continue
to lack the basic necessities of life such as good hospitals and
potable water,” Mr Amekah said in a chat with the Daily Graphic.
Background
There
is a growing rage in both the traditional and social media over a
decision by Parliament to construct a new chamber aimed at creating more
space and comfort for lawmakers.
The new 450-seater capacity
chamber, when built, will have a chapel, a mosque, an eatery and
gardens. The current chamber being used by the 275 MPs, according to Sir
David Adjaye who designed the new chamber, will be converted into a
conference centre.
The Parliamentary Service Board has already received the architectural model for the new chamber.
Since the news hit the media space, Ghanaians have expressed concerns and kicked against it.
Whereas
some Ghanaians described the move as a misplaced priority, other said
they were shocked that Parliament would spend $200 million for a new
chamber rather than channelling that money into addressing the
development challenges in their various communities and constituencies.
To
register their displeasure, a new campaign with the hashtag
#DropthatChamber# has been launched on social media with some groups
planning to embark on a demonstration to kick against the new chamber.
Parliament decision
In
his view, Mr Amekah said instead of Parliament to focus on using their
power to support any initiative that would further create comfort for
them, they must rather take decisions on issues that would benefit the
ordinary Ghanaian.
Already, he said, the seat of parliamentarians
“is seen as a comfort and luxury because they are in a better position
than many Ghanaians if not all, so why further spend more money to
enlarge it”?
Mr Amekah said the time had come where Ghanaians
would not sit down and allow the people they voted into power to take
them for a ride, indicating that the media campaign against the new
chamber was good because it would force the leaders to do the right
thing.
“The LPG is in support of Ghanaians and will, therefore, not support any new chamber for Parliament,” he added