Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader, has proposed the construction of a new parliamentary chamber and the establishment of specialized hospitals for lawmakers, sparking fresh debate in Parliament.
“We are a political class, and our health concerns should be managed within certain confines. Due to issues of confidentiality, many members travel abroad at great expense for medical care. I believe addressing this locally would be beneficial,” Afenyo-Markin stated.
“Mr. Speaker, you have also raised concerns about security. Here in the public gallery, anyone could throw something at a Member of Parliament, and there is no adequate security.
Mr. Speaker, I am therefore advocating for enhanced security in the chamber and, at the very least, a discussion on moving away from this old infrastructure. While it is still functional, we should begin considering the possibility of a new chamber,” he added.
However, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has strongly opposed the proposal, arguing that such initiatives are unwarranted given Ghana’s current economic challenges.
He contended that Parliament already has access to top-tier healthcare facilities and that the circumstances do not justify such projects.
“I honestly don’t believe that building a hospital should be a priority for Parliament. Mr. Speaker, we are in close proximity to Ridge Hospital, which I personally believe is well-equipped to provide the necessary medical services for staff here.
At this stage, I do not think the country’s finances should be used to build a hospital exclusively for the political class, isolating them from ordinary Ghanaians and the facilities they use,” Ayariga argued.
“I completely reject the proposal to construct a hospital for Parliament. I also do not believe the security concerns justify the construction of a new chamber, and I strongly oppose that as well,” he added.
The debate over whether the welfare of Parliament should take precedence over national economic concerns is expected to continue, as lawmakers remain divided on the proposals.
By Najat Adamu
