By Mohammed Awal
awalm19@gmail.com
The Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) has descended heavily on Parliament for importing Chinese furniture to refurbish its chamber.
At a news conference themed: “Corruption everywhere-John Mahama must resign” yesterday, AFAG said the move by Parliament to resort to the Chinese to refurbish the chamber was disgraceful and a mockery of the President’s call on Ghanaians to patronize home made products.
“The renovation of the chamber of Parliament at an inflated cost, which undermines the local industries is disgraceful …it’s a disgrace…it’s a disgrace by the institution who makes laws for this country –an institution which superintends over regulations and promoting the interest of the public,” said AFAG’s Chairman, Dr. Nana AyewAfriyie.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Agorwu Furniture, Samuel Kwame Diabo, also echoes AFAG’s concerns. He told CITI Business News that the conduct of Parliament was disrespectful and a way to satisfy their pay masters.
“To be very honest, we are totally disappointed in those people who took that particular decision to import foreign furniture to our Parliament House,” he added.
Locals lack the capacity
However, the Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Alfred Kwame Agbesi thinks otherwise. According to him, it was impossible for a local company to produce the over 300 furniture pieces per the limited time available.
“It is not the issue that because they say we should use Made in Ghana goods, then if you want to buy 300 furniture at the end of this week, you must go from shop to shop,” he stated, boasting that “We needed over 300 chairs and 300 tables before resuming sitting and now which furniture company in Ghana would have given us this quantity of furniture within this short time?”
Locals have the capacity
Debunking HonAgbesi’s explanation that local furniture producers have not gotten the needed capacity to produce 300 tables and chairs within the limited time of 3 months, Samuel Kwame Diabo said “Our labour force is about 150 and we would have been able to deliver their order and even beyond.
“To be very honest, Agorwu is very well equipped and we have a few other companies in the system that are very good and when we put our heads together, we should be able to put our Parliament in good shape, with our own local products,” he noted.
Short URL: http://thechronicle.com.gh/?p=82338
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