General News of Monday, 23 March 2020

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Coronavirus: Parliament to temporarily move to Accra International Conference Centre

Parliament House, Ghana play videoParliament House, Ghana

The leadership of parliament is considering relocating its affairs temporarily to the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).

The measure is to allow the House have enough room to practice the protocols associated with social distancing to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic among members of the House.

Already, the House has stepped up internal measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Addressing members on Monday, the Speaker of Parliament, Prof Mike Oquaye, announced interim sitting measures in the House in a bid to practice social distancing.

“We must sit in a way whereby it will be healthy for us and also will be showing a good example to our country men on the importance of social distancing because of our stature as members of this country.

“May be this things will make people realize that Parliament is really in need of a more spacious place to do the business that we are mandated to do.

“So in the future, all these will be considered appropriately,” he said, and advised the members of the House to leave one seat unoccupied in between them hence to stop the spread of the deadly respiratory illness, COVID-19.

The Speaker indicated that the decision to relocate to AICC was based on a suggestion by the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu sometime back.

“As the Majority Leader suggested the other day, we are in the process of making all relevant arrangements if we can relocate temporarily to the conference centre…and carry on. Maybe this would make people realize that Parliament is in need of a more spacious place,” he stated.