Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has visited Parliament to assess the extent of damage caused by Tuesday’s heavy downpour.
He was accompanied by Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister for National Security and officials of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) on the tour of the facility that houses Ghana’s legislature. The entourage was taken round by the Speaker, Rt Hon Mike Oquaye and the leadership of Parliament.
Parts of the roof were ripped off by a heavy downpour accompanied by strong winds on Tuesday evening, leaving the Members of Parliament who were still at the chamber stranded.
They were forced to seek refuge as the chamber was flooded.
The Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Prof. Mike Oquaye said they are doing whatever they can to restore the situation. He also called for a new chamber.
“We need a new chamber and we trust that at the appropriate time, we shall have the ears of the executive” Prof Oquaye stated.
Play attached audio
For his part, Dr. Bawumia was thankful the damage was not as extensive as initially feared, noting that, some measures have been taken to try to contain the situation before a permanent roofing is put in place.
“So, I am happy to see the consultant and the contractors are still around and they are going to repair the damage. The legislative body is key for this whole country and I think it is very important that the activities of Parliament are not interrupted,” Dr Bawumia stated.
Dr. Bawumia assured the MPs that he will brief President Nana Akufo-Addo on the extent of damage for immediate action.
“I will brief the president when he arrives about what has taken place and I am sure we will look at this issue of another chamber very seriously. It is very important that the work of Parliament continues.”