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Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta expressed confidence in the recently presented 2024 budget, highlighting its measures aimed at providing relief to Ghanaians. In an interview with TV3’s Martin Asiedu Darteh, Ofori-Atta defended the budget, stating he couldn’t fathom any opposition against its focus on macro stability, growth, and various relief measures.
However, this optimism clashed with the opposition’s stance. The Minority in Parliament contested the budget, citing an overload of taxes that would worsen the plight of Ghanaians.
Adding a twist to the unfolding drama, Ofori-Atta proposed amendments to Parliament’s Standing Orders concerning budget approvals. He suggested initial approval followed by detailed scrutiny during estimates and appropriations discussions, aiming to avoid the chaotic headcounts and challenges witnessed in recent sessions.
The Parliamentary Speaker Alban Bagbin ordered a rescheduling of the headcount to decide on the budget’s fate. The Majority’s boycott and accusations of biased proceedings further complicated the situation. Despite the Speaker’s efforts to guide the process, tensions persisted, resulting in suspended sittings and claims of insufficient numbers from both sides of the House.
Ofori-Atta’s interpretation of the Speaker’s “Is” declaration after a voice vote as an approval of the budget clashed with ongoing disputes about the process’s fairness. He asserted that the budget stood approved until resolved otherwise, emphasizing the Speaker’s initial declaration.
The stalemate continues, leaving the fate of the 2024 budget uncertain, with conflicting interpretations and ongoing parliamentary procedural disputes dominating the discourse.
