First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joe Osei-Owusu has lamented over comments made by Members of Parliament on plans by the Parliamentary Service Board to build a new 450-seat chamber for Ghana’s parliament.

The Member of Parliament for the Bekwai constituency described the commentary on social media as “sickening”. 

Social media – Facebook and Twitter – have been awash with harsh criticism against the Ghanaian parliament and its leadership in connection with the new proposed chamber.

Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, 3 July 2019, Mr Osei-Owusu, who sounded unhappy about the discussion of the matter outside the floor of the house, said: “I think a statement should be made on the discussion that is being made outside on a new chamber when no such thing is before us and the way members are behaving – responding left and right – I think we should discuss it on the floor. I’ll direct that the leadership make a statement on what they [said] at the Parliamentary Service Board which have not been publicised and yet members are commenting as if they know the facts.

“I think we should discuss them here so that the true facts [come out] because as it is now, everybody picks it somewhere … and the things I’m seeing on social media are sickening”, he said.

Last week a team of architects led by British Ghanaian architect, Sir David Adjaye unveiled the design and artist’s impression for the project valued at US$200 million.

This however attracted a number of criticism from the public.