Parliament Gets €2.26m Facelift

The leadership of Parliament is searching for a temporary venue to host the 275 legislators when the House reconvenes on September 3, 2024.

The main chamber is currently undergoing a €2.26m major renovation, forcing the Speaker to explore alternative locations.

During an inspection of the renovation project on Friday, August 23, 2024, Speaker Alban Bagbin jokingly said, “I can decide to host them under a tree or even take them to Ho or elsewhere.”

The renovation includes an upgrade of the conference system, with the removal of old cables that have been in place since 2014.

According to Lesley Addico, Acting Director of ICT in Parliament, “The average lifespan of such cables is between 10 and 15 years.”

The Speaker is expected to meet with the leadership of Parliament to decide on a temporary venue, with hopes that the chamber will be ready by October for the third meeting.

The sudden need for a temporary venue arose after the Majority requested a recall of the House to address pressing government business, which the Speaker is constitutionally mandated to accommodate.