‘Thieves’ invade Parliament to ‘steal’ hand sanitizers

In a rather bizarre circumstance, hand sanitizers placed at vantage points at the precincts of Parliament to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) are being drained at a very alarming rate by some unsuspecting workers, thereby, denying others from accessing the product.

This unethical act, according to the Leadership of Parliament, is done at a time when the House has suspended sitting and there is virtually nobody in sight.

At a sitting on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who is worried about the development raised the issue and cautioned that anyone caught in the act will be severely sanctioned.

“Mr. Speaker, we are procuring the hand sanitizers and placing them at vantage positions. What we have realized is that a few individuals are draining the hand sanitizers and taking them elsewhere which is very serious. Mr. Speaker, we need to activate the CCTV and anybody who is caught in this, not only are we going to name and shame, but appropriate sanctions will be applied to that person. It cannot be that hand sanitizers are placed at vantage positions and overnight we come and then everything is gone”, he cautioned.

The hand sanitizers placed at vantage points at the precincts of Parliament are part of measures put in place by the Leadership of the House to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The House has also in the interim, banned the public from observing Parliamentary sittings from the public gallery. They have also procured some digital infrared thermometer to check the temperature of workers and Members of Parliament before allowing entry.