Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, the MP for Tamale Central, has expressed worry about the financial burden that emergency parliamentary sessions place on the state budget.
He said that these sittings cost Ghana at least GH¢1 million every day, which he believes is a significant sum for a single day’s event.
Following Speaker Alban Bagbin’s decision to suspend Parliament indefinitely on Thursday, November 7, due to a lack of quorum, Mr. Murtala made his remarks.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucus had petitioned for the House to reassemble, and thus the session had been summoned.
Only the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus was in the chamber, nevertheless, as members of the NPP caucus did not show up despite their urgent appeal.
Murtala Mohammed was harshly critical of the NPP MPs’ absence, calling it a “blatant disregard for the serious nature of convening Parliament.”
He emphasized that the NPP’s absence was a waste of taxpayer money and effort, describing it as an example of poor management that put an excessive strain on the state’s finances.
Speaking to the media, Murtala emphasized that each recall session comes with substantial costs that surpass the daily cost of GH¢1 million.
He pointed out that MPs’ schedules, who had arrived ready to discuss important national matters, were also thrown off by the absence of members.
He stated:
“Why did they waste all of our time? It comes with a huge financial burden to the state. Because if I tell you, one day sitting, particularly in circumstances like this, Parliament would spend close to a million or more than one million Cedis. For all members of Parliament, our TNT would have to be provided. Imagine the number.”
“I was in my constituency as a matter of fact, and I went to my farm and started harvesting my rice. I had just two days to go to the farm and come and continue with my campaign but had to cut short my activities, and several MPs were engaged in equally very important assignments. All those Members of Parliament abandoned the scene and came to the Chamber,”
