News:
August 4, 2012
Parliament has approved a loan agreement between SINO Africa Development Company Ltd and Fidelity Bank Ltd with Government of Ghana(GOG) as the guarantor for an amount of GHS 50 million for the construction and furnishing constituency offices for MPs.
The offices are expected to provide reasonable office space to facilitate work of the MPs in the constituencies.
The office will also promote cross-party interaction, as it would be open to all constituents irrespective of party affiliation.
The constituency office is necessary to provide an avenue for constituents to present their sentiments on national issues to the MPs for onward articulation in parliament.
Presenting a report of the Joint Committee of Finance and Housing, the chairman of the Finance Committee James Avedzi stated that some members of the committee were on the view that such an important project should be funded from budgetary allocation and through a loan, however it was explained that even though such a scenario would have been desirable, inadequate budgetary funding would render the project uncompleted for several years or in the alternative only a few constituencies would benefit in any particular financial year.
On the provision of land to site the project, the committee was informed that each MP would be required to liaise with District Assemblies to provide a suitable land for the project in the constituencies.
Some members advised that designs of the project should incorporate water harvesting or mechanized borehole technology so as to make each constituency office self-sustainable in terms of water availability.
They were particularly concerned about the provision of water to the offices given the high number of people who are expected to visit the office daily and the concomitant use of wash room and other facilities.
Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh