The demolition will pave the way for a new one to be constructed at a cost GH¢15 million.

The amount is part of the budgetary allocation of GH¢37,816,401 approved by Parliament for the implementation of the activities and programmes of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

Cymain Ghana Limited, the firm undertaking the demolition, began the exercise yesterday [Sunday], and it is expected to be completed on Wednesday.

When the Daily Graphic visited the site, the Old Parliament House had been barricaded while a notice had been posted on the premises to advise people to stay away from possible dangers.

Only officials of Cymain Ghana Limited were allowed to have access to the site. About 10 workers were seen removing old and broken equipment for the bulldozers to destroy the over 50-year-old building.

As the bulldozers descended on the building which was constructed in the early 1950s, it was certain that Ghana was losing one of its historical landmarks.

The building, which housed the Citizens Vetting Committee (CVC), the Judgement Debt Commission, the CHRAJ and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) caught fire in December 2013 and had parts of it destroyed, making it unsafe for people to occupy.

Officials tight-lipped 

An attempt to find out more about the demolition exercise proved futile as no official was willing to disclose information concerning the pulling down of the building.

However, one of them, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it would take three days for the building to be pulled down. He was unwilling to share any further information.

There were no officials at CHRAJ to speak to because they had earlier been told not to report to work to allow the construction firm to carry on with the demolition.

History 

Situated exactly opposite the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra, the Old Parliament House accommodated Ghana’s legislators from the era of Dr Kwame Nkrumah till 1981 when the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) ousted the government of the People’s National Party (PNP) under the leadership of Dr Hilla Limann.

Before then, it had housed the Gold Coast Legislative Assembly from 1951 when Dr Nkrumah became the leader of Government Business under British rule.

The Old Parliament House, during the revolutionary days, also housed the offices of the erstwhile Committee for the Defence of the Revolution under the PNDC.

On the day of the country’s political independence, March 6, 1957, the government invited functionaries, including the Duchess of Kent and the Prime Minister of Britain, Mr Harold Macmillan, to grace the occasion at the Old Parliament House.

On the eve of independence on March 6, 1957, Dr Nkrumah declared independence at the Old Polo Grounds, opposite the Old Parliament House.

Today, the edifice houses the offices of CHRAJ, while Parliament has been relocated to the State House.

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Source: Graphic.com.gh

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Some have hinted of moves to impeach him as a result.

According to the Minority, the speaker has consistently attempted to stifle them in the House and has been biased against them.

The House was thrown into near chaos when Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu complained that his side was not being allowed to thoroughly probe government’s ‘Planting for food and jobs’ programme.

The Minority Chief Whip, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak in an interview with Citi News, described as unfortunate the reaction of the Minority on the floor of the house but he said it was necessary because the Speaker has refused to afford them the opportunity to voice their concerns.

“It is out of frustration…. the Minority, we have lost all the opportunity to vent our frustration so we have to, unfortunately, burst in anger which may not be called for but our patient is running out.”

“We in the Minority are really disappointed in the manner in which the speaker has been handling affairs in the house since his appointment…. Since this speaker came, we’ve been treated with a lot of disrespect. You have a business on the order paper, you wake up the next day, they are out and you will not be given the space to voice out those concerns.”

“If we don’t see a change in the way he conducts business in the House we will advise ourselves. We the minority, we have more than one-third of the house and he knows the implication of that.”

In a quick rebuttal, the Majority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu has rejected the allegations of the Minority.

According to him, the Minority’s action in the house stemmed from their lack of understanding of parliament’s rules.

“I didn’t want to poison the atmosphere the more… this is a House of rules and a House of order….that threat [to impeach the speaker] is contemptous… They don’t even want to read the law and appreciate it.

“To the largest extent possible, speaker has been fair”

The Majority leader also accused the former speaker, Edward Doe Adjaho of manipulating members of the minority.

“The man [Doe Adjaho] is behind the scenes, he still wants to control Parliament. Yesterday, he even called them and was telling them that, they should not agree for us in committee to allow you the press to be present. The man thinks he is still in control,” he said.

Meanwhile, there are reports that signatures are being collected for the speaker’s impeachment.

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By: Sixtus Dong-Ullo & Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The MPs lamented that life after service in Parliament for some members often becomes extremely difficult hence efforts must be made to cushion them when they leave Parliament.

The concerns were raised on the floor of the house, after tributes were read in memory of the late MP for Hohoe North, Prince Jacob Hayibor.

Theme Member of Parliament for Central Tongu, Joseph Gidisu in his comment said “the rate of exit from this world by colleagues who have passed out of the house is quite alarming; and I want to equally associate myself on calling for a very serious attention to be given to whatever support that could be given to members of the house by way of pension or any other arrangement to be of assistance to MPs when they are outside this house.”

The Deputy Minority leader and Member of Parliament for Bimbilla, Dominic Nitiwul, described as disappointing, the situation where Members of Parliament would now have to contribute to support the former MP’s funeral.

Government in 2013, released about GH¢200,000 to be paid to former Members of Parliament who served in the fifth parliament of the fourth republic as ex-gratia.

‘Set up provident fund for ex-gratia’

In April 2016, a Zonal Consultative forum held in Kumasi on emoluments and salaries of article 71 public office holders, ended with recommendations that a provident fund be set up to allow Members of Parliament (MPs) cede part of their monthly salaries to serve as their ex-gratia when they exit Parliament.

A five-member Presidential Committee on Emoluments appointed by President John Dramani Mahama is organizing the broad consultative meetings across the country to solicit public views on the all-important issues to factor these into a final recommendations document.

Article 71 office holders are: the President and his Vice, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Speaker of Parliament and Members of Parliament, Chief Justice, other superior judges and heads of independent state agencies.

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By: Duke M. Opoku & Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The legislators on the floor of the house on Thursday said Dr Grant served the country selflessly and dedicated her life to the promotion of the cause of women and children in the country.

[contextly_sidebar id=”RzaOeFgjUSUJh2QuDQFN83eut6GvPvxh”]Haruna Idrissu, the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, who delivered a statement on the floor of the house said the late Dr Mrs Mary Grant’s influence and legacy went beyond the health sector and social protection.

She said as a member of erstwhile Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC) who served as the Deputy Secretary of Health, and later became the Minister of Education and Culture, she fought for the adoption of various social protection programs for the country to protect vulnerable women and children.

Haruna Idrussu said, “our new generation of health professionals will be infected by her dedication and will to be more than ready for the future. For those of us in politics, her professionalism backed by a strong conviction and wit will remain the major lessons for us and for many Ghanaian girl-child, she will forever remain an inspiration.”

She expressed hope that the youth of the country will be inspired by her “dedication, resourcefulness and farsightedness.”

Benjamin Kumbour the Minister of Defense recounted the many times he encountered the late stateswoman and received encouragement as well as guidance from her to when he served as a health ministers years ago.

Sarah Adjoa Sarfo, the Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya said the principles and virtues exhibited by the late Mary Grant must resonate with Ghanaians and upheld.

“I believe that as a country it should just end with a tribute in parliament, a state burial and the ceremonial aspect of it but this great woman who has contributed her part to the development to the country should remain in our minds as far as her principles were concerned and we shouldn’t just build statues and memorials and speeches but whatever she stood for in politics, we must keep it in mind and uphold it,” she said.

Other parliamentarians including Joseph Yileh Chireh, Raship Pelpuo and Richard Anane called on Ghanaians to emulate the dedication and selflessness demonstrated by the late stateswoman in her service to the country.

The Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho led at he house to observe a minute’s silence to her memory.

‘Dr. Mary Grant passes on at 88’

Dr. Mrs. Mary Grant, passed away at age of 88 on 18th September, 2016. Family sources said she died at the 37 Military Hospital.

She left behind two of her own children, and four adopted  ones.

President John Dramani tweeted about her death, describing her as a “great woman of our modern era,” hours after news about her death broke.

Dr. Mrs. Mary Grant was awarded at the Ghana Women Awards, the premier awards ceremony aimed at celebrating the success of women of excellence in various facets of the society.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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