The Parliamentary Service Board has ordered for the immediate interdiction of the officer in charge of overseeing the effective running of backup machinery meant to supply electricity to the legislature whenever there is power cut.
“Hon. Members would have noticed that this House experienced a number of power outages which resulted in disruptions to proceedings of this House. It will appear that some steps required would have been taken to avert disruptions into proceedings in the event of power outages were not taken.
“The Parliamentary Service Board has taken a great view of the embarrassment to the House but the disruptions to its proceedings and decided to institute an inquiry into the matter.
It has accordingly ordered the interdiction of the officer responsible for overseeing the maintenance of these facilities,” noted the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho.
Practical steps
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Edward Doe Adjaho, who is also the Chairman of the Parliamentary Service Board announced this to members of the legislature last Friday night in his wrap-up message to close the Third Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.
Other members of the Parliamentary Service Board include the Majority Leader, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Minority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Deputy Majority Chief Whip, Hajia Mary Salifu Boforo, Hon. Nii Okaija Adamafio and the Clerk of Parliament, Emmanuel Anyimadu.
The Board he said has taken practical steps including liaison with the Electricity Company of Ghana to have one of their personnel on standby whenever the House is sitting.
Parliament was forced to suspend its sitting last Wednesday, July 22, 2015, when a power cut disrupted its proceedings.
The 19-year-old standby generators meant to power the chamber and other offices of the legislature in case power cut could also not function partly due to unavailability of fuel, compelling Parliament to get in touch with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to put them on emergency service.
Power was finally restored in an hour’s time with Deputy Director of Public Affairs, Kate Addo, announcing to journalists that the House was in the process of procuring new generators to replace the existing ones.
Credit: Kasapa
