The Speaker of Parliament, Prof Aaron Michael Oquaye, has cautioned research assistants assisting Members of Parliament (MPs) in their work to adhere to instructions not to come to the House due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) disease or risk suspension or dismissal.
The Speaker, who gave the announcement during the sitting of the House yesterday, worriedly indicated that both parties agreed that all research assistants should work from their various homes due to the pandemic, and that they would be paid their full salaries at the end of each month.
Oquaye regretted that this understanding notwithstanding, some of the research assistants have still been frequenting the House. The Speaker indicated that the lives of the MPs and other staff of the House cannot be in danger because of disrespect for directives, warning that those disobeying the order to stay at home could be suspended without a pay, or dismissed outright.
“It was agreed that all research assistants who refuse to work from outside Parliament will be disciplined. They are to work outside Parliament for their full pay.
“But if they will not like to electronically communicate with Members of Parliament and submit research material to them with the state money, then they will be punished by way of suspension without pay, or dismissal, according to the rules of the House.
“You cannot defy the neutral safety of honourable members and other staff without relevant sanctions, and that will be seriously applied.”
This is not the only measure taken by the House to contain the spread of the pandemic since its import into the country in March.
During the early days of the outbreak of the disease in Ghana, the Speaker took measures to ensure the House adheres to the World Health Organisation (WHO) regulations and protect its members from the virus.
The House procured Personal Protective Equipment such as hand sanitisers and nose masks for its members, staff and non-staff members, including the media.
The leadership also ensured that the place was fumigated to keep them safe. This aside, some members who travelled to different parts of the world, especially to places where the disease was rampant, were prevented from attending sittings for some time, in order to contain the spread of the virus.
Stricter measures were taken when the country started recording high numbers. The House thoroughly subjected its members to Covid-19 tests, which was carried out by the National Covid-19 Testing Team.
MPs, staff and non-staff members, as well as the media, and even visitors, were all made to undertake the test, where it emerged that some two MPs, and some 13 staff have contracted the disease.
With all these measures and investment made in the fight against the disease, and ensuring that the lawmakers of the country are well protected as they continue to discharge their duties for the country, the Speaker has also vowed not to allow anyone to bring such efforts to futility.
The post MPs dread Covid-19 appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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