A proposal by Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, for the establishment of a dedicated hospital for Members of Parliament (MPs) and the construction of a new parliamentary chamber has faced strong opposition from the Majority Leader and MP for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga.

The debate emerged during the swearing-in of the Parliamentary Service Board on Monday, March 17, when Afenyo-Markin suggested that a specialized healthcare facility was needed for lawmakers to address their medical needs.

“Mr. Speaker, there are two things I look forward to seeing in the ninth government. One is a hospital for Parliament. If it happens according to your vision, it will be a great addition. We are in the political class, and our health issues must remain confidential. Many MPs travel abroad for medical care at great costs. A hospital here would address this,” Afenyo-Markin said.

In addition, Afenyo-Markin revisited the discussion on the need for a new parliamentary chamber, arguing that both the hospital and new chamber would improve the working conditions for MPs.

However, Mahama Ayariga rejected the proposals, citing the country’s economic challenges as a reason why such projects would be unjustifiable at this time. He argued that the establishment of a new chamber and a hospital for MPs were not priorities for the nation, especially given the current financial constraints.

“I do not believe that building a hospital should be the priority of this Parliament,” Ayariga said. “We are very close to Ridge Hospital, which I personally believe provides adequate healthcare for Parliament’s needs. Given the financial situation in the country, we should not be focusing on creating a hospital for MPs while ordinary Ghanaians use public healthcare facilities. I completely reject the idea of constructing a hospital for Parliament.”

Ayariga also pointed out that the existing clinic within Parliament should be sufficient for basic medical services. He proposed that instead of building a new hospital, the clinic’s facilities could be improved, with MPs accessing more advanced medical care at nearby hospitals like Ridge or Korle Bu when necessary.

Afenyo-Markin’s call for a new parliamentary chamber also revived a longstanding debate that was widely criticized by the public when it was first proposed in 2019. At that time, citizens and civil society organizations vehemently opposed the idea, arguing that Parliament should focus on addressing pressing national issues rather than investing in self-serving infrastructure projects.