The Deputy Majority Leader, Sarah Adwoa Safo, has assured her colleagues Members of Parliament that the leadership of the House is committed to improving security within the precincts of the chamber.
She made the comment on the floor of Parliament on Friday, following renewed calls for better security after the Westminster attacks in Britain
Responding to a specific enquiry from the Effutu MP, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Ms. Safo acknowledged that security in and around Parliament had improved, but much more is needed to be done.
“I very much agree that there is more that we ought to do especially around our main areas. People just troop in left right and centre; so leadership has taken note of concerns and we will work together to ensure security is tightened.”
Meanwhile, the MP for Wa Central in the Upper West Region, Rashid Pelpuo, recounted to Citi News a security breach in Parliament some eight years ago, which he said was frightening and underscored how critical the MP’s security concerns were.
“When you compare what happens elsewhere to what happens in our Parliament, you will see that it is child’s play, with how individuals can just walk into parliament and walk into offices of members of Parliament.”
There was a moment somebody walked in with a gun saying he was looking for his MP, though it was later revealed the weapon was not live, Mr. Pelpuo noted.
“… this shows how vulnerable a member of Parliament can be. It was something that was frightening. Thankfully, I think a marshal and other security people arrested the guy and some even thought he was not normal, but how could an abnormal person walk through security this way.”
At least one police officer per MP
The Chairman of Parliament’s Committee for Defence, Major Derek Oduro, is in favour of improved security, and has suggested that one police officer should be assigned to each MP.
According to him, although the security at Ghana’s Parliament has improved significantly over a period, “it is still not the best” for the calibre of persons in Parliament.
He made this call well aware that Ghana is yet to meet the required United Nations’ ratio of one police officer to 500 people, but said that does not prevent MPs from being given adequate protection.
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