COVID-19: Parliament won’t shutdown – Majority
The majority in parliament has stated that the law-making chamber will not be shut down despite calls from minority members of Parliament for the house to be closed.
The Deputy Majority whip, Matthew Nyindam, argued that it was not out of place for a few MPs to test positive for Covid-19.
The Minority had demanded a total lockdown of parliament after some of their colleagues tested positive for the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.
NDC MPs want parliament shut as two reportedly test positive for coronavirus
But the Deputy Majority Whip disagreed.
The Kpandai MP said all safety protocols had been instituted to protect members and staff of the house.
“We must observe the protocols, and when we all observe the protocols, we will defeat COVID-19.
“Today there are nations that are voting, America will go for election in November, COVID-19 is still there, Ghana will go for election December, COVID-19 is still here, so let’s all see COVID-19 as part of us…we all must adopt a very positive lifestyle,” he said.
Two Members of Parliament and 13 parliamentary staff reportedly tested positive for the virus.
‘Parliament lied’ – Muntaka confirms 2 MPs tested positive for coronavirus
Following news of some MPs testing positive for COVID-19, Kumbungu MP, Ras Mubarak and Kwame Governs Agbodza, who is also MP for Adaklu started a campaign for parliamentary sitting to be suspended for two weeks.
The two minority MPs argued there was no urgent business in Parliament to warrant continuous sitting.
“We want the house to shut down because if 13 members of staff and 2 MPs have tested positive for the deadly novel coronavirus, then that is serious looking at the close proximity of the chamber within which we work,” Ras Mubarak told JoyNews in an interview monitored by theghanareport.com.
But some political analysts believe the NDC MPs demand goes beyond the safety. They believe it was meant to pull stitches out of the new constitutional instrument meant to govern the new voter registration exercise and election 2020.
Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament has raised concerns over the decision by the government to keep final year JHS students in school for 11 weeks before they write their final exams.
Minister of Education, Matthew Opoku Prempeh on Tuesday, June 2, explained the duration will give both students and teachers ample time to complete all courses they were unable to cover before the COVID-19 pandemic.
But minority spokesperson on Education, Peter Nortsu, said the extended stay in school could expose the pupils to the virus.