The Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, has claimed that emergency sittings cost the country at least GH¢1 million.
He was reacting to the failure of the New Patriotic Party’s MPs to attend sitting on Thursday, November 7, 2024.
Speaking to journalists, the lawmaker noted that each day of such sittings costs Ghana at least GH¢1 million, adding not only the GH¢1 million daily expense but also the disruption caused to MPs’ schedules.
“Why did they waste all of our time? It comes with a huge financial burden to the state. Because if I tell you, one day sitting, particularly in circumstances like this, Parliament would spend close to a million or more than one million Cedis. For all members of parliament, our TNT would have to be provided. Imagine the number.
“I was in my constituency as a matter of fact, and I went to my farm and started harvesting my rice. I had just two days to go to the farm and come and continue with my campaign but had to cut short my activities, and there were several MPs who were engaged in equally very important assignments. All those Members of Parliament abandoned the scene and came to the Chamber.”
Speaker Alban Bagbin adjourned sitting indefinitely on grounds that the House could not take decisions since they did not have the number.
The House resumed sitting following a petition filed by some NPP MPs.
However, members of the NPP caucus failed to attend the sitting, leaving only members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) present.
The NDC MP lamented that the action by the NPP “signifies a blatant disregard for the serious nature of convening Parliament” and represents a considerable waste of both time and taxpayer money.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
