Majority conspicuously missing at start of proceedings to approve 2022 budget

Members of the Majority Caucus were absent on Friday, November 26 at the time the Speaker of Parliament walked in to steer affairs leading to the approval the 2022 budget statement or otherwise.

It was unclear what was keeping the Majority out of the main chamber but some rumoured that they were waiting for all their members to have the budget approved in case it goes into voting.

The budget, which was presented by Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta on Wednesday, November 17, has been christened Agyenkwa Budget.

No wonder the Majority, throughout the debate on the policy document since Tuesday, November 23, has advocated its approval in order to save Ghanaians from the economic downturn occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.

But the Minority side has remained resolute to challenge and, in an extreme case, reject some of the policies introduced in the budget.

Majority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh has dismissed the “propaganda” by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs, saying the leadership of the House was called into a meeting by the Speaker, Alban Bagbin, just when they were getting ready to be in the chamber.

“So, we are still even in the meeting,” he stated at the time of addressing journalists.

“So for anybody to have the temerity to come and address you and to say that we are engaging in ferrying our members with chartered flights and all manner of stories, treat it with the greatest of disrespect and disdain.

“Members of Parliament would have to behave honourably.”

Meanwhile, the Speaker of Parliament decided to suspend proceedings for 30 minutes as the Majority members were still unavailable minutes after he had walked in.

It is unclear what decision he will reach after the half-an-hour break.

Source:3news.com