450-seat chamber: Protesting fighters arrested

The leader of the Economic Fighters League Mr Ernesto Yeboah has been arrested as the Fighters stormed Parliament, today, Friday, 5 July 2019 to protest the construction of a proposed 450-chamber for Ghana’s legislature.

Mr Yeboah was arrested and put in handcuffs by the Police protection Unit of Parliament in collaboration with the Marshals department and dragged to parliament house’s district police headquarters.

Mr Yeboah was arrested together with two others.

The law enforcement agents said Mr Yeboah and the Fighters were disrupting the business of the house.

Speaking to Class News’ parliamentary correspondent Ekow Annan as he was being dragged out of the house, Mr Yeboah said: “They are manhandling me right now. The police officer is intentionally stepping on my foot and kicking me in the back so, it is deliberate. Look at the chains on my wrist, they are deliberately hurting me. They’re simply stopping me from telling the truth. If there are no men and women of courage in this country, we in the Economic Fighters League and I as the leader, Ernesto Yeboah, we shall tell them in the face that: ‘Drop that chamber.’ If this is what you don’t want to hear we will tell you in the face: ‘Drop that chamber’”.

Background

Social media – Facebook and Twitter – have been awash with harsh criticism against the Ghanaian parliament and its leadership in connection with the proposal to construct a new 450-chamber for Ghana’s legislator.

The decision to build a new chamber estimated to cost $200 million has been met with intense opposition from Ghanaians as well as civil society groups.

Some lawmakers, especially from the Minority side, like the MP for North Tongu, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa; Ras Mubarak, MP for Kumbungu; and Tamale North MP Alhassan Suhuyini, have described the move as needless.

Also, some lawmakers from the Majority side, including Samuel Ayeh-Paye, Ayensuano; and Mr Patrick Boamah, Okaikwei Central, have also said a new chamber is not necessary for now.

However, the Majority Leader of Parliament, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has been vocal in justifying the need for a new chamber.