Theatricals in Parliament as Majority Side claims to Approve Budget Rejected by Minority Side

There appears to be a game of musical chairs or pure theatricals in Parliament on Tuesday November 30, 2022 as the Majority Side of the House has claimed the approval of the 2022 Budget which was purportedly rejected by the Minority Group on Friday November 25.

When the Majority Group made up of MPs of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and an Independent MP walked out of the House during the conclusion part of the debate on the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December 2022, the Minority side made up of 137 MPs on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) continued with proceedings and subsequently voted to reject the budget.

The Majority Group led by its leader, Osei Kyei-Mensa-Bonsu, contested the verdict of the House presided over by the Rt. Hon. Speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin. According to the Majority side, the one sided 137 MPs who rejected the Budget fell short of the mandatory 138 MPs required to form a quorum for decision making on the Floor of the House. He said whatever decision was taken on Friday, November 26, 2021 is unconstitutional, null and void.

In Parliament on Tuesday, November 30, 2021, the Majority Group also made up of 137 MPs counted the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu, who was presiding, as the 138th MP to meet the mandatory 138 MPs to purportedly approve the same Budget which was rejected by the other half of the House.

The Minority Group, led by its leader, Haruna Iddrisu, at a press conference almost immediately after the purported approval, also indicated that the Majority Group were also in breach of the constitution by taking a decision with only 137 MPs just as they had accused them of doing in the rejection of the Budget.

He said as far as they are co concerned, the First Deputy Speaker who was presiding as the Speaker in the absence of the substantive Speaker who is on a medical leave outside the country, could not count himself as part of the decision makers when he is presiding.

Currently, the two sides of the House have taken different and entrenched positions on the motion to approve the 2022 Budget. It is therefore not exactly clear the status of Ghana’s Budget Statement and Economic Policy for the year ending 31st December, 2022.

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By Clement Akoloh || parliamentnews360.com