Security In Parliament Has Been Compromised - Bagbin

Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, is unhappy with what he calls a poor security setup in Parliament. The Speaker believes that this compromises the security situation in the House. Speaking at the inauguration of the Parliamentary Service Board, Alban Bagbin said the security of the Parliament must be looked at again. We have no control over the coming in and going out of the

premises by strangers and this also compromises the security of Parliament and its members. There have also been numerous instances of break-ins and thefts. In the 2018, there was an attempted suicide by a man, believed to be 35 years, in the House and the man who tried to end his life was said to have requested to see the MP for Kwesimintim, Joseph Mensah who was not

readily available to meet him. The unfortunate incident was also averted by the security in the Parliament and the man was then later also whisked away by the police. Parliament, in a statement, subsequently urged citizens who want to observe proceedings in the public gallery to comply with the rules governing attendance in in the House. Alban Bagbin also charged members of the 8th

Parliamentary Service Board to also work to enhance, and among other departments, the Drafting Unit of the Parliamentary Service, to be able to support Members of Parliament to initiate Private Members’ Bills. Article 124 (2) of the 1992 Constitution states that: there shall be a Parliamentary Service Board which shall consist of the Speaker as the Chairman, four other members all of

whom shall be appointed by the Speaker, acting also in accordance with advice of a Committee of Parliament and the Clerk to Parliament. The Board, which is chaired by by the Speaker, has the Minister of the Parliamentary Affairs and the Leader of of Government Business, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu and the Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu; the former New Patriotic Party NPP Member of

Parliament and the former Majority Leader, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidoo, Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, as well as the Clerk of of Parliament, Mr Cyril Nsiah, as members. The appointment of the six-member board also followed a recommendation also by by the Advisory Committee of Parliament to the Speaker.