Peacefmonline.com has stumbled upon a piece of correspondence from Parliament and signed by its speaker Rt. Hon. Aaron Mike Oquaye to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo inviting the latter to the sod cutting ceremony of a new chamber complex for the House.
Contents of the explosive letter clearly indicates parliament had already proposed a date for the sod cutting by "booking" the president, whiles the Finance Ministry has also "dutifully given budgetary allocation" for the project estimated to cost $200million.
And it appears but for the courtesy call on the Speaker of Parliament by Ghanaian architect, David Frank Adjaye, said to be the designer of the National Cathedral, during which the design for the new chamber was unveiled by Rt Hon Mike Ocquaye, the public would have been kept in the dark.
Executive Engaged? I'm Not Aware
This development is in sharp contrast to comments by the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, that the Executive arm of government has not been engaged on plans to build a new chamber for Parliament.
“From the Executive perspective, I am not aware that the Executive has been engaged on this idea,” he is reported to have said.
Public Outrage
The Parliamentary Service Board’s decision to construct a complex including a new 450-seater chamber has been a subject of public outrage.
Most Ghanaians are awed and enraged about the rationale behind the proposed facility, particularly when there are other more important needs of citizens; the likes of portable water, classroom blocks, employment etc.
According to them, building a parliamentary chamber in this current economic hardship state is unnecessary.
The project, expected to be funded partly by the Indian government with counterpart funding from the government of Ghana, when constructed, will consist of a 450-seater chamber, a chapel, mosque, restraint and a parliamentary museum.
Sod-cutting Subject To Nana Addo's Convenience
In the letter to the president titled "Proposed New Chamber Complex For Parliament of Ghana - Invitation To Sod Cutting Cremony", Prof. Aaron Michael Oquaye indicated that the ceremony was to be done in the last week of June 2019, "subject to Your Excellency’s convenience and confirmation."
The president was informed that the aim of the project “is to overcome the capacity challenges with the current Chamber which is operating at its optimal seating capacity now.”
Adding that “currently, preparation of detailed designs, preparation of Bills of Quantities as well as Value for Money check arrangements are underway, to be allowed by a formal application to the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) for procurement approval for the construction phase."
It is however unclear if the Office of the President had formally replied to the letter.
Attached is the letter to the presdient...
Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/ Twitter: @Washman5/ Instagram: Washman007
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What is this crying for? we're Ghanaians not slice when in 2013 state of the Union address john mahama read to the whole nation they were going to build that chamber and why didn't you cry then but crying over a spill milk ! I don't get it ! this government made it clear they are not going to leave out anything the previous government did even their corruption and inflation of contracts will be dealt with so why are you crying when these same ndc mps have seen the Speaker of parliament about this project which the sod cutting was supposed to happen on the last week of June but didn't happen before the media who Iove sensation took it up without enquiring about anything, I now understand why john mahama called them lazy and gave them rikity buses to travel! I think they deserve the same treatment from this government since Ghanaian media are not up to the standard of the civilized world and they are not ready to learn they are too local with nkwasea reportage! It's like sensation is their competition that make them better than others but they must know they are calling for their doom when the people get to know their agenda!
"Did the President wrote back to the speaker that he will honour their invitation?" @ RICHIE. WHAT A SILLY QUESTION
All those who are casting aspersions on the minister should that tactfully. Did the President wrote back to the speaker that he will honour their invitation? was a sod cut on the said date?. Please! we all don't support this project but, when somebody speaks to the issue read well and understand before we take the person to the cleaners.
we are talking of ghana that has a lot of issues at hand, roads not in good shape,schools still under trees, lack of health facilities in most part of the country, etc.etc, are you saying building that house is the most urgent need for this country now? i can't imagine you in government, you will spend everything of the state partying.
Heeeerh Kojo Oppong Nkrumah must bow his head in shame and resign honourably. This guy is a fraudster i mean real one and some gullible people dollows them even if they pupu they will eat,People like Kamal-Deem Abdulai
It seems Ghanaians know the price of everything but hardly know to appreciate the vaule of anything.You see, this Architect Ghanaian Diaspora, born by Ghanaian parents is a world renown Architect who did the fantastic design. Indeed, his numerous works had become 'talk of the town' , so to speak, thus tourist attractions in no mean countries like the US, GB and Russia only to mention the few. I believe this Son of Ghana had wished so much to creat a terrific architectural work for his Mother- and Fatherland, Ghana. And you all agree with me his works are remarkable, contemporary, monumental and hostorical assets which shall benefit Ghana today and tomorrow. Today,people affectionately speak of Paris, London, Tokyo and New York and these Cities with their diversities and uniqueness did not fall from heaven and were not built without a cost. Please, don't let us demoralize or speak a everything down to the NDC/NPP parochial partisan and ***barred word*** interest. And all those Organisations, civil Societies and journalists who seek to get mere attention of the the Government. Not long a ago the Jubilee House of Ghana, the seat of Government today, in its establishment, suffered the same predicament yet it is there to stay, likewise SHS and many more.
Nana addo has always been a fraud. You can see from what he says and what he does. I think all he wanted to be is a president, and now that he is the president he doesn't care any longer, afterall, he knows he may die in the next few years so he is doing things anyhow.
LIARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In this technological age, must we accept everything we read from the media space? We simply don't need this project, period. Let's stop the unnecessary commentary and impugning peoples integrity. Anyone can design such a letter and plant it in the media space.
EEEIII KOJO OPPONG HAVE YOU SEE THIS LETTER? YOU SHOULD HAVE CROSS CHECK BEFORE SPEAKING ON THIS ISSUE.YOU ARE GRADUALLY LOOSING YOUR RESPECT.HOW DO I BELEIVE U AGAIN AS AN INFO.MINISTER?