Ghana ’s Parliament seems to have been touched by Midas, but some Members of the House , have come out to lament bitterly about
the refurbishment works that have taken place in the august House .
Member of Parliament for Okaikwei South , Hon . Ahmed Arthur , described the modernization of the chamber as ‘hy3 nhy3 nkwa’ to wit a “white elephant ” project that won ’t last for long despite government ’s
decision to fork out GH ¢ 60 million to a foreign company. “ Before the project started, we were told it
would cost us GH¢ 16 million but now we have been made to understand it is GH ¢ 60 million”,
he said. As professional local furniture maker , the legislator disclosed on Peace FM ’s midday news that he doubts the durability of the chairs and tables which has been fitted into the chamber.
He claims that the “ poorly made” chairs looked too luxurious for any serious minded legislators and could render them lazy in the
cause of performing their duties .
“ The works that have gone on in parliament looks flashy, but there are issues to do with the durability of the items fixed in the house” ,
he said. Aside this, Hon . Arthur is of the opinion that government could have contracted a local
manufacturer to produce the chairs and tables for the house rather than awarding it to a
foreign company. “ Following the renovation that has taken place
in the house, there is now no space in the house as we were made to understand before
the exercise commenced . The setting of the house doesn’t make us feel like serious people . We went on break for almost three months so any one would have
thought local companies like Agowa or any other local furniture manufacturer would have been given the opportunity to undertake the project. ” He argues that if government had awarded the
contract to a local manufacturer , the proceeds would have even benefitted the nation .
