The leadership has taken a bold step to strengthen security in Parliament by announcing a number of extensive steps to safeguard the Right Honourable Speaker, MPs, and parliamentary staff.
The Deputy Marshall of Parliament, WG CDR Frederick Bawa (Rtd), signed a statement on Monday, October 21, outlining the new protocols. They are intended to provide a safe and organized environment during legislative sessions.
In order to get access to the Chamber, MPs, staff, and members of the press must first pass a rigorous screening process. The statement called on all MPs to adhere to the new security protocols.
The goal of this action is to strengthen the Parliament’s security system and guarantee that all visitors are thoroughly screened.
MPs’ bodyguards will no longer be allowed to enter the Chamber as part of a major policy reform.
For the greater good, MPs—many of whom depend on their personal security detail—are now expected to follow this rule.
Strict parking regulations will be implemented outside the Chamber in order to reduce traffic and improve security in the Grand Arena area. Only approved areas will be accessible, as cars will not be permitted to park there. VIPs must use designated drop-off locations within the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) grounds to guarantee efficient traffic flow.
In order to guide drivers and guarantee that drop-offs go off without a hitch, the Ghana Police Service will be there. The goal of this new design is to keep the building’s perimeter secure while expediting access to the property.
The mandate that MPs always wear their parliamentary identification tags is another crucial component of the new security measures. The purpose of this project is to facilitate the identification of authorized individuals by security officers in the Chamber and its environs.
Officially, access to the Chamber will open at 8:00 a.m., giving MPs and staff plenty of time to go through security checks before the day’s activities begin.
The leadership has emphasized that in order to prevent delays, collaboration with security personnel and timeliness will be crucial.
Additionally, until further notice, public gallery entrance will be limited in an effort to preserve a safe and concentrated atmosphere.
The anticipated parliamentary meeting on Tuesday is preceded by the increased security measures. The Speaker’s contentious decision, which gave the NDC 136 seats in Parliament—the majority—while the NPP only has 135—has sparked a great deal of popular interest in the upcoming session.
Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson cited Article 97(1)(g) of the 1992 Constitution to query the occupancy of four parliamentary seats after those MPs announced their intention to run as Independent Candidates or under the NPP’s flag, prompting the Speaker to declare four seats empty on October 17.
However, following a lawsuit brought by Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Supreme Court stepped in on October 18 to suspend the decision and permit the impacted MPs to carry on with their work until a final verdict was reached.
A constitutional discussion concerning the right role of the judiciary in legislative proceedings and the balance of power in Parliament was sparked by the Speaker’s ruling and the Supreme Court’s subsequent intervention.
