The Parliamentary Service Board says the construction of a new chamber for Parliament has been taken off its agenda.

The decision was arrived at following a meeting to consider the controversial issue that has left many Ghanaians infuriated.

In a statement, the Acting Public Affairs Director of Parliament, Kate Addo said “the Board, has, upon reviewing representations made by well-meaning Ghanaians, accordingly taken the development of the new chamber block out of its present agenda.”

Ghanaians have been protesting the PSB’s decision to put up a new complex for Parliament at an estimated cost of $200 million.

The Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, had justified the decision to construct the new multi-purpose facility.

He said among other things that, the distance between the majority MPs and the minority MPs is too short and a minister can easily throw a blow or slap another minister when things get heated.

Ghanaians are hoping that the decision does not come up at all again in the future although the PSB says the development of the Parliamentary enclave and a new chamber block and offices “remain an essential and integral part of the future plans of the Legislature, in a bid to provide strong, accountable, responsive and transparent parliament to serve the purpose of Parliament.”

Below is a copy of the full statement: