Chairman of Parliament’s Business Committee, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has announced that legislators from February 8, will not be allowed to receive visitors within the precincts of Parliament.

The decision, according to him, is to control the spread of the novel coronavirus after it was disclosed that 15 Members of Parliament (MPs) and 56 members of staff of the parliamentary service have already tested positive to the disease.

Presenting the schedule of business for next week, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu also indicated that only Parliamentarians and essential staff will be required for sittings.

“Following the result received from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for the Covid-19 testing carried out in Parliament, there is the need for further precautions to avert the spread of the disease. You in consultation with leadership have agreed that the House sits only twice a week.

“Again, the directive has been given that beginning next week, Members of Parliament will not be allowed to bring their visitors to the House same directive goes to the staff. And we want to restate the fact that, the public would also not be allowed to into the public gallery to observe proceedings in the House,” he stated.

The Majority Leader also noted that although the Appointments Committee will start vetting President Akufo-Addo's nominees for the various ministries on Wednesday, February 10, the committee would be dissolved and reconstituted when the new standing orders are approved.

The Suame MP, however, emphasised that the Appointments Committee as presently constituted will vet the nominees until the decision to approve the new standing orders is through.

“For the avoidance of doubt it is important to state that there is going to be a new confederation for the Appointments Committee if we come to adopt the new standing orders.

"But since we are not there yet, the Committee in its current nature and structure will then sit on Wednesday to begin the vetting process of nominees," he said.