MPs protest 7-days sitting extension

Some Members of Parliament are protesting a decision by the leadership to extend sitting by seven days.

The extension was to enable the Business Committee of the House to pass some important bills currently before it.

But the aggrieved members say the extension will hamper their activities over the weekend.

Manhyia MP Mathew Opoku Prempeh, Old Tafo MP Dr Anthony Akoto Osei were some of the MPs unhappy with the extension Joy News' Parliamentary correspondent Elton John Brobbey reported.

They argued they would have to go to their constituencies to, at least, take part in the voting exhibition process before it ends.

The MPs say for several months they have not been able to visit their constituents which is also a key part of duties in the house.

And with the 2016 election five months away, the MPs insist they have to pay the constituents a visit or risk losing their seats in the upcoming elections.

They are therefore requesting leadership of the House to at least give them the weekend to go and visit their constituents and return on Monday to continue with business of the House on Tuesday.

But that request has also been rejected by some MPs especially from the North. The Northern caucus argue they cannot go to the North on Friday and return on Monday. They would rather the House continues sitting for the week so that when it rises they will return to the House in September for the last round of sitting before the December elections.

The Speaker is yet to take a decision on the controversy currently ensuing on the floor.

Meanwhile, the business committee says it needed the extension in order for the House to pass very important bills before he House rises.

The House still has a number of bills it has to bring closure on before it rises. Some of the bills include the Supplementary Estimates for the 2016 Financial Year, report of the committee on privileges, Transfer of sentenced bills.

Story by Ghana|Myjoyonline.com|Nathan Gadugah