Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman Constituency, Thomas Ampem Nyarko, has called for a reduction in the number of sittings of Parliament.
According to him, Parliament must sit for only two days a week to allow MPs to save money on the current crushing prices of fuel.
He made the suggestion in Parliament while commenting on the business statement for next week.
MPs currently sit four days a week, but the NDC MP says MPs are struggling to cope with the rising cost of fuel, hence the suggestion.
“Sometimes we can come and in less than two hours we adjourn till the next day, I am asking whether it will not be possible for the Business Committee to consolidate, and pack their activities so that instead of four days, we come like two days in a week in order to save on the amount of money we are using for fuel,” he asked.
Fuel prices have seen astronomical increases in the course of the week. Petrol and diesel prices have risen to an average of 18 and 23 cedis per litre, respectively, from 15 and 19 cedis per litre previously.
According to Mr Nyarko, filling his tank at a fuel station cost him GHȼ3,000, adding that he had to seek assistance from a colleague MP to settle the cost.
“So Mr Speaker looking at the kind of business that we have, is it not possible… we can stay for six hours a day instead of driving here two hours then we go back for … that way, we can save like 500 cedis on fuel,” he explained.
But Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu shot back, warning no such proposal will be considered because of its effect on productivity.
He described the call as ‘apocalyptic’, adding that it is unfortunate for a Member of Parliament to make such a proposal.
“What will be the effect on national productivity, this call that you are making, what will be the effect on GDP? I think that really it is an unfortunate call that we should be working for just two days,” he said.
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