A group of Members of the Parliament of Ghana were caught in the middle of the chaotic situation in Kenya as protesters continued flooding the streets of Nairobi, the capital city of the East African country, on Tuesday, June 25, 2024.
GhanaWeb earlier reported that the Ghanaian MPs, who are leaders of the Local Government Committee of Parliament, were visiting the parliament of Kenya when the protests besieged the House.
A video sighted by GhanaWeb showed the Ghanaian MPs together with their Kenyan counterparts being rushed to safety.
GHOne TV has now identified the Ghanaian parliamentarians who were caught in the crossfire in Kenya.
According to the Accra-based media house, the MPs caught up in the chaos in Kenya were five in number, and they include:
• Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi, the Member of Parliament for Odotobiri
• Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, the Member of Parliament for Odododiodioo
• Thomas Nyarko Ampem, the Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman
• Sylvester Matthew Tetteh, the Member of Parliament for Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro
• Mohammed Hardi Tufeiru, the Member of Parliament for Nanton
Background:
The unrest, which has been on for some days now, reached the doorsteps of Kenya’s parliament on Tuesday, June 25, as hundreds of protesters stormed the parliamentary complex, voicing their discontent over a controversial finance bill that proposes tax increases.
Dense clouds of tear gas had reportedly engulfed the parliament as police officers struggled to disperse the crowd.
A BBC report said that MPs were engaged in a heated debate over the finance bill before it was passed.
It added that hundreds of MPs were trapped inside the parliament building as police continue their efforts to repel the protesters who have breached the complex.
Kenyans have been protesting against the finance bill, arguing that it imposes additional financial burdens on citizens already grappling with high costs of living.
The government, on the other hand, insists that the tax hikes are necessary to increase revenue without exacerbating the national debt.
Initial proposals included a 16% sales tax on bread and a 25% duty on cooking oil.
In response to widespread public outcry, the government made some concessions, yet the amended bill, which still contains tax increases, was passed on Tuesday.
In a video made available to GhanaWeb, it shows the moment the Ghanaian MPs were being directed away to a safe place within the parliament building.
Watch the video of the MPs being taken to safety below:
BAI/GA
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