General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is still at sea over plans to build a new chamber for Parliament.
Johnson Asiedu Nketia said at a time the government can barely raise money to support its flagship free Senior High School policy, he finds it strange that such a huge sum of money is being pumped into such a “useless venture.”
READ: Ghana will be prosperous after my mandate – Akufo-Addo
His comment reinforces the NDC’s position on the controversial decision which has attracted bad press for the legislators and government.
Parliament is under pressure to justify its decision to build a new House, expanding the 275-seater Chamber to 450 seats.
Architectural designs outdoored by the Parliamentary Service Board last Friday sparked widespread criticisms on social media.
READ: Manager granted bail for defaulting in SSNIT payments
Members of Parliament (MP) are divided over the matter following the backlash with some explaining that, the decision also came as a surprise to them.
But, Mr Nketia on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, Thursday said the government must not absolve itself from blame.
He claimed that the 450-seater Chamber is to create space for MPs from the new constituencies the Akufo-Addo led administration intends to create in connivance with the Electoral Commission.
To support his claim, the NDC scribe cited how Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia first announced publicly the plan to build a new Chamber in 2017 when a rainstorm destroyed portions of the current Parliament building.
“We have seen the plan of government that is why in spite of the bread and butter issues confronting Ghanaians, they want to go ahead with such an unpopular decision,” he said.
Mr Nketia said the NDC will vehemently kick against such a plan to protect the public purse.
Source: Ghana | Adomonline.com | Adwoa Gyasiwaa Agyeman