Tamale Central MP Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed has voiced serious concerns about the financial toll emergency parliamentary sessions place on the state, noting that each session costs Ghana at least GH¢1 million.
This expense, he argues, is substantial for a single day’s gathering.
Murtala’s comments followed Speaker Alban Bagbin’s decision to indefinitely adjourn Parliament on November 7.
The session had been scheduled at the request of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucus, who had petitioned for Parliament’s recall.
Despite the urgency they stressed, no members from the NPP attended, leaving only the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs in attendance.
Murtala criticized the NPP’s absence as a “blatant disregard for the importance of convening Parliament” and pointed out the waste of both time and taxpayer money involved. He emphasized the strain such sessions place on state resources and the disruption caused to MPs’ schedules.
In his remarks to the media, Murtala urged all political parties to consider the high financial implications of these sessions and to prioritize responsible governance.
“Why did they waste all of our time? It comes with a huge financial burden to the state. Because if I tell you, one day sitting, particularly in circumstances like this, Parliament would spend close to a million or more than one million Cedis. For all members of parliament, our TNT would have to be provided. Imagine the number.
“I was in my constituency as a matter of fact and I went to my farm and started harvesting my rice. I had just two days to go to the farm and come and continue with my campaign but had to cut short my activities and there were several MPs who were engaged in equally very important assignments. All those Members of Parliament abandoned the scene and came to the Chamber.”