Drama unfolded in Parliament yesterday as the Majority caucus staged a walk-out ahead of the approval of the 2024 budget statement and economic policy of government.
This was after the Minority had challenged the ruling of the Speaker of the House, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, on the voice vote he put for the approval or otherwise of the budget.
It was the second time the Majority had staged a walk-out on the government budget, having done same in 2021.
The signs of a showdown were apparent on the wall at the commencement of sitting in Accra yesterday with almost all lawmakers present; an unusual attendance to the House this meeting.
As scheduled, the Minority and Majority leaders concluded the debate of the budget with the Speaker himself presiding.
In his debate, the Minority Leader and MP for Ajumako/Enyan/Esiam, Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, indicated that they were opposed to tax measures which amounted to GH¢11 billion proposed in the budget.
“We cannot, out of good conscience support these painful and burdensome new taxes, particularly when this government had been reckless and wasteful in the management of public resources,” Dr Forson told the House.
The Majority Leader and MP for Suame, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, in his debate said, Ghanaians should be well pleased with the budget and stand united to build back because it had the antidote to the economic malaise of the country.
On his part, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, urged the House to approve the sum of GH¢259,052,474,750 and work together in the spirit of collaboration and unity to harness the opportunities of the citizenry.
Having listened to the debates, the Speaker put the question and on the first note, could not make a decision as he entreated MPs to say ‘yes or no’ in their natural voices and avoid shouting.
Putting the question on the second count, the Speaker said, he thought those in favour of the approval of the budget had it saying “I think the yes have it”.
But coming under Standing Order 113(2) which state that “a Member may call for headcount or division if the opinion of Mr Speaker on the voice vote is challenged”, Deputy Minority Leader and MP for Ellembelle, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, said the Speaker got his judgement wrong.
His application was immediately countered by the Deputy Majority Leader and MP for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who said, his colleague at the opposite end got the procedure wrong and prayed the Speaker to dismiss the application.
The Speaker, however, held that the Deputy Minority Leader was within the remit of the rules and granted the application and said members would be called out by their names as provided for in the Order 113(2).
Irked by that decision, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu led his side out of the chamber, reminiscent of the 2021 episode as the Minority jeered at them.
Briefing the media after the walk-out, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu accused the Speaker of playing to the gallery of the Minority by delaying the vote count to buy time for the minority.
“What is happening is that there are five members of the minority who are not here. So all that he is doing is to play for time for them to come to the chamber,” he alleged.
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI
