A heated debate has erupted in Ghana’s Parliament, with Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin proposing the establishment of a dedicated hospital for Members of Parliament and a new parliamentary chamber.
This suggestion has been met with fierce opposition from Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga, who cites the country’s struggling economy as a reason to reject the proposals.
The debate began during the swearing-in of the Parliamentary Service Board on Monday, March 17, where Afenyo-Markin suggested that lawmakers needed a specialized healthcare facility to cater to their medical needs.
He further argued that a new parliamentary chamber is necessary to improve the working conditions of MPs.
“Lawmakers need a specialized healthcare facility to cater to their medical needs,” Afenyo-Markin stated.
However, Mahama Ayariga swiftly rejected the proposals, emphasizing that Ghana’s economic challenges take precedence.
“Given the pressing economic challenges facing the country, a new chamber and a hospital for MPs are not priorities,” Ayariga countered.
He stressed that the government should focus on addressing the country’s economic woes rather than investing in projects that benefit only a select few.
This debate has rekindled the contentious discussion surrounding the proposed new parliamentary chamber, which was initially met with widespread criticism in 2019.
At the time, citizens and civil society groups vehemently opposed the idea, arguing that Parliament should focus on pressing national issues rather than self-serving infrastructure projects.
The proposal was seen as a luxury the country could not afford, and many questioned the priorities of the lawmakers.
Despite the backlash, the proposal has resurfaced, with the Minority Leader, Afenyo-Markin arguing that it is necessary to improve the working conditions of MPs.
-BY Issah Olegor
