Parliamentary Chamber Renovation to Cost €2.26 Million – Speaker Bagbin
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has announced that the ongoing renovation of the Parliamentary Chamber will cost the Ghanaian government approximately €2.26 million.
Parliament went on an indefinite break at midnight on July 30 to accelerate the renovation, which is projected to take around three months. On Friday, August 23, the Speaker toured the Chamber to assess the progress of the work.
During his visit, Bagbin highlighted some of the challenges faced by Parliament, including issues with voting systems, quorum, and malfunctioning audiovisual equipment. He recalled that in 2014, Bosch DICENTIS Multimedia Company was commissioned by former Speaker Doe Adjaho to transition the House into an E-Parliament, aiming to reduce costs associated with bulk printing, paperwork, and other related expenses.
The Speaker noted that his predecessor, Prof. Mike Ocquaye, later reviewed the original contract and decided to incorporate biometric systems into the Chamber. This led to a competitive tendering process, with the contract ultimately awarded to Michel Africa Parliament Services.
Bagbin clarified that the adjournment on July 30 was also partly to accommodate attendance at an international parliamentary conference in the United States.
The renovation, which is funded by the government, includes work tables produced locally by Fernac, while other equipment will be imported. The project is expected to be completed by the end of October 2024.
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