Eight Members of Parliament have been told to self-quarantine after they recently returned from trips abroad.
The Speaker of Parliament, Prof Aaron Mike Oquaye made this known to the media on Monday, 23 March 2020, that 8 members of Parliament are on self-quarantine.
“You don’t expect me to mention names. This is not done anywhere with regards to these conditions. They are in self and voluntary isolation under the supervision and advice of our medical doctor and the clerk to Parliament…You don’t go about issuing details of names and all that. We are handling a matter in a very professional manner,” Prof Oquaye said.
He also directed all National Service personnel and other staff to work from home as part of measures to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
Ghana has recorded 27 cases of coronavirus with one death.
Meanwhile in tandem with the fast spreading nature of the COVID-19, The Speaker of Parliament has hinted of relocating Parliament to the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), which is a more spacious area, in their bid to observe social distancing as part of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Speaking in Parliament on Monday, 23 March 2020, Prof Oquaye while admonishing the lawmakers to adhere strictly to social distancing also hinted that the House will have to relocate to the Conference Centre.
Nonetheless, MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong appealed to the leadership of the House to suspend parliament.
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He said the sitting arrangement in parliament is too close and that puts the lawmakers at a high risk of contracting the virus, that is, if a member unknowingly gets infected.
Ken Agyapong explained that the MPs will use their long break to do parliamentary duties after the infection has been totally eradicated in the country.
