Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Suame, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has threatened to activate the CCTV cameras in the House in order to catch persons who are ‘stealing’ hand sanitizers provided for use in Parliament.
Mr Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu expressed worry over the fact that procured sanitizers which have been installed for use by all are being abnormally drained moments after they are fixed.
“We are beginning to witness some unfortunate events in this house. We are procuring the sanitizers and placing them at vantage points. What we are beginning to notice is that a few individuals are draining the sanitizers and taking them elsewhere which is very serious
“We need to activate the CCTV cameras. Anybody who is caught in this, is not only going to be named and shamed but appropriate sanctions will be outlined for that person,” he stated.
Parliament has in the past days instituted measures to protect the country’s legislators from coming into contact with the virus which has claimed more than 8,000 lives.
The public gallery which hitherto was open to all members of the public has for instance been temporarily shut down. In its bid to ensure enhanced sanitary conditions among MPs in the wake of the coronavirus spread, Parliament has also installed machines to dispense sanitizers to all lawmakers.
Around the country, the demand for hand sanitizers and rubbing alcohol have surged over the past few days after it was announced that frequent use of sanitizers can protect one from contracting the virus.
Announcing some provisional steps to be taken to observe the social distancing directive as Ghana records 9 cases of the virus, Mr Kyei Mensah Bonsu noted that it cannot be that Parliamentarians alone can cause the drain on the fixed sanitizers since the drain occurs sometimes while sitting is in session.
“It cannot be that sanitizers are placed and then overnight we will come and everything is gone. It cannot happen, overnight doesn’t mean necessarily that it happened in the course of the night, even whiles we sit, you step out to where you saw a sanitizer that was almost full and within one hour everything is gone, it cannot be,” the Majority leader added.
Mr Kyei Mensah Bonsu hinted that consultations are ongoing for the House to start holding sessions at the ‘much-spacious’ Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) if it becomes necessary.
