Concerns have been raised over the decision to move Parliament’s upcoming post-budget workshop to Ho, with the Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central, Patrick Yaw Boamah, demanding the event be hosted within the legislative chamber to curtail unnecessary state spending.
Addressing the floor of the House, Mr Boamah cautioned that the current economic climate requires Parliament to show financial prudence rather than incurring heavy logistics bills for out-of-town events.
Under the current arrangements, 276 MPs alongside key Parliamentary Service staff are scheduled to travel to the Volta Serene Hotel in Ho on Sunday, November 15, for the three-day exercise.
However, the Okaikwei Central lawmaker insists the plan is financially unjustifiable and presents unnecessary travel hazards, especially given the ongoing roadworks along the route. He highlighted extensive construction along the 20-kilometre Tema Motorway stretch as well as the Tema-Akosombo line down from Asikuma Junction to Ho.
“Why must we waste so much travel time, risk expenditure, hotel bills, feeding, everything, taking our police officers and staff to Ho for three days, drivers amongst others,” he questioned.
Urging the Speaker and parliamentary leadership to reverse the decision, Mr Boamah stressed that the Parliamentary Chamber in Accra remains fully equipped to handle the post-budget deliberations smoothly without squeezing public funds.
“This chamber is very well suited to host this post-budget workshop. We’ve had it here before,” he said, adding that holding it in Parliament would save the nation significant cost.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana