There would be consequences if you support new chamber - NDC warns Minority MPs

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has cautioned its Members of Parliament (MP) against supporting the proposed 450-seat chamber.

The party says it will take serious actions against any of their MPs who may support the idea.

The General Secretary of the NDC, Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, said the party is against the proposed construction of a new chamber for legislators because they “do not think Ghana needs a new parliamentary chamber at all”.

He was addressing the media at a press conference on Thursday, 4 July 2019.

Mr. Nketiah told the media that the party has since communicated the position of the umbrella family to all the MPs.

He warned, “If you go to support it there will be consequences”.

The party had earlier issued a statement saying it would be “unconscionable in the face of these challenges for President Akufo-Addo to spend $200 million on a Parliamentary Chamber at a time when one already exists and is serving the needs of Parliament. Parliament only recently had the Job 600 project undertaken to provide decent offices for MPs. We are unable therefore to appreciate the basis upon which a new chamber should be built”.

“National resources must be channeled into projects and expenditure that have a direct bearing on the lives of the people not grandiose and prestige projects of doubtful relevance”.

The NDC has therefore asked the president to “learn from the example of the NDC that invested heavily in education, health, housing, communications, water, roads transportation and other sectors which brought relief to the people of Ghana. He must not subject the public purse which he promised to protect”.