Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin
Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has proposed the establishment of a new Parliamentary chamber to enhance the security of Members of Parliament (MPs).
The proposal was made during the inauguration of the Parliamentary Service Board for the ninth Parliament on Monday, March 17.
Afenyo-Markin emphasised the need for new infrastructure that reflects the importance of the legislative arm of government.
“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.
However, Mahama Ayariga, the Majority Leader, rejected the proposal by the Minority Leader, citing the current financial crisis of the state as the reason.
But Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin has called for enhanced security in Parliament’s enclave.
While speaking at the inauguration of the Parliamentary Service Board for the Ninth Parliament, he highlighted the urgent need for security enhancements.
“One of the challenges that need to be addressed is to secure the parliamentary enclave to ensure the safety of members and staff. This has been a worrying matter for parliament for some time now, we are actually insecure here,” he stated.
Bagbin painted a troubling picture of the situation, revealing that unauthorized individuals have been able to infiltrate the premises and launch attacks.
“We are not safe. Sometimes people can come in and attack us or staff, and anytime there is an attempt to apprehend them, they scale over the wall and escape into the forest,” he lamented.
He stressed that resolving this issue is crucial for the effective functioning of parliament and urged the newly inaugurated board to prioritize it.
“This is vital for the functioning of parliament. I believe the ninth board will work assiduously to make this a reality,” he added.
Calling for action from parliamentary leadership, he urged them to follow up on the matter to ensure concrete steps are taken to fortify security within the enclave. “I will call on the leaders of the house to follow up on this matter,” he said.
