Member of Parliament for Okakwei Central, Patrick Boamah, has questioned Parliament’s decision to hold its post-budget workshop in Ho in the Volta Region.
According to him, the exercise could be organised in Accra to save public funds, arguing that Parliament’s Chamber provides a suitable venue for the workshop, making the planned trip to Ho unnecessary.
He stressed that transporting 276 Members of Parliament and some Parliamentary Service staff to Ho for the workshop would impose unnecessary financial costs and expose participants to risks associated with ongoing road construction works along the Accra-Ho route.
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Hon Patrick Boamah made the remarks on the floor of Parliament on Friday during deliberations on the Business Statement for next week presented by Majority Leader James Agalga.
He announced that the post-budget workshop would be held in the Volta Regional capital after the presentation of the 2027 Budget next Thursday, November 12, 2026.
“Looking at the cost involved, I humbly submit to your good self and the organisers, the leadership of Parliament, that this chamber is very well suited to host this post-budget workshop,” he told the Speaker.
Mr Boamah questioned the rationale behind moving the exercise outside Accra, particularly given the financial implications of transporting lawmakers, parliamentary staff, drivers and security personnel.
He noted that the journey from Accra to Ho could also present safety concerns because several sections of the road network are currently undergoing construction.
“Tema Motorway, 20 kilometres, is under construction. Tema to Akosombo, from Asikuma Junction to Ho, is under construction,” he stated.
He argued that the additional expenditure on transportation, accommodation, feeding and other logistics could be avoided if Parliament decides to organise the workshop within the parliamentary precincts.
“Why must we waste so much travel time, risk, expenditure, hotel bills, feeding, everything, taking our police officers and staff to Ho for three days?” he questioned.
The MP reminded Parliament that the Chamber had previously hosted similar post-budget workshops, insisting that there is no compelling reason to incur additional costs when an appropriate facility is readily available.
“We’ve had it here before. So I don’t know what discussions went on between the Business Committee to have arrived at this,” he added.
Mr Boamah appealed to the Speaker and parliamentary leadership to reconsider the decision in the interest of prudent public expenditure.