The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Bagbin, has clarified that the Budget Statement and the Economic Policy of the government for the year ending December 31, 2024 is still before the House.
He said the final decision on the budget statement would be taken next week.
He, therefore, directed the Business Committee of the House to reschedule the issue for next week.
“The Budget Statement and the Economic Policy of the government for the year ending December 31, 2024 is still before the House and it is not hanging,” he said.
Setting the record straight on whether the House approved or not the motion for the budget statement on Wednesday, Mr Bagbin said “Nobody has hanged the budget statement on any tree or anything.”
“It is still before House and it is not a matter that the Speaker should be seen or heard debating in public because it is still before the House and the final decision will be taken mostly likely next week,” he said.
Set the record straight
The Speaker gave the clarification after the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, had drawn the House’s attention to public perception that the House had approved the budget statement contrary to what was captured in Wednesday’s Votes and Proceedings.
He said the misleading information in the public, led by the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, portrayed the impression that Parliament approved the budget statement after the headcount which was challenged by the Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Kofi Armah-Buah.
“Mr Speaker, this matter is grave and there is the need for us to set the record straight, particularly because a budget statement is an important document of state.
“Ghanaians have the impressions that the budget statement has been approved while we here know that budget has not been approved by Parliament of Ghana and it is important for people of Ghana to be made aware of,” he said.
Dr Ato Forson, therefore, called on the Majority Leader to correct the record and urge Ken Ofori-Atta to desist from making further comment on the matter.
“Mr Speaker, I also urge you to set the record straight because there is a lot of confusion out there because impressions have created that budget has been approved while we know that the budget is hanging,” he said.
Headcount request still hanging
Reacting, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said per the Votes and Proceedings, a question was put on the motion and the motion was agreed to but the Deputy Minority Leeder subsequently sought a headcount motion.
“That request is the one that is hanging and that request has not been sufficiently been addressed. It is not the decision and that is the determination of the Speaker.
Source: GraphicOnline
