Parliament has by a majority decision approved the 2024 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government.
The approval was down to a head count pursuant to Standing Order 113(3) which regulates headcount in the House.
“In the case of a headcount, Mr Speaker shall take the vote of the House by calling upon Members who support or oppose his decision successively to rise in their places,” the Order states.
At the end of the headcount, the Majority caucus which was in favour of the approval recorded 138 votes to beat their colleagues in the Minority who garnered 136 votes with the only absentee being the Member for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson.
“Honourable members, at the end of the headcount the ayes are 138 and nos 136. Absent one. Honourable Members the ayes have.
“This house accordingly approves the budget statement and economic policy of government for the year 2024,” the Speaker declared after the votes yesterday.
By this, the House would from next week commence with the approval of the estimates for the various ministries, departments and agencies before passing the Appropriation Bill to sanction the spending of GH¢259, 052,474,750.
The approval process was truncated on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 after the Majority caucus staged a walk-out over a disagreement with the Speaker of the House, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, in the application of the rule.
The Speaker, after the voice vote on Wednesday, opined that those in favour of the passage of the budget had carried the day.
That decision was quickly challenged by the Deputy Minority Leader and MP for Ellembelle, Emmanuel Kofi-Armah Buah, who thought they rather should have been declared as having carried the day.
Unable to resolve the disagreement, the House adjourned and rescheduled the approval process for yesterday.
At about 3pm when the House resumed sitting, the numbers were negligible but within minutes, it was full setting the tone for the vote.
The Minority had explained it could not support the budget because of new tax measures introduced by the government which would worsen the economic condition of the Ghanaian people.
“We cannot out of good conscience support these painful and burdensome new taxes, particularly when this government has been reckless and wasteful in the management of public resources,” Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, told the House.
But the Majority Leader and MP for Suame, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, said Ghanaians should be well pleased with the budget and stand united to build back because it has the antidote to the economic malaise of the country.
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI
