Alban Bagbin explains how the 2022 Budget was rejected in Parliament

Rt. Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Speaker of the 8th Parliament of the Republic of Ghana has finally added his voice to the rejected 2022 budget.

The Finance Minister Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta presented on behalf of His Excellency Nana Addo Akufo-Addo on 17th November, 2021, the Economic Policy and Financial Statement of the government for the 2022 financial year normally referred to as the Budget for 2022.

The budget was debated thoroughly and it was voted on, on 26th November, 2021 which after the voting, the budget was rejected by the Minority side in Parliament after the Majority side walked out of Parliament during the voting proceedings.

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After the rejection of the budget, the Majority Caucus of Parliament came out with their own explanations to why the rejected budget of 2022 is unconstitutional and for that matter, it is null and void.

The Majority Caucus of Parliament are not happy with the decisions of the Speaker of the House and they sited Article 104 and the Standing Orders of Parliament to buttress their point in a statement they released on the 28th of November, 2021.

In response to their allegations, the Speaker Rt. Hon Alban S.K Bagbin said, 138 Honorable Members were Present in Parliament during the processes that led to the rejection of the budget.

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“Please let it be known that there were more than 137 MPs on the Floor when I put the question for the approval or rejection of the Economic Policy and Financial Statement of the government for the 2022 financial year often referred to as the Budget for 2022.”

Alban Bagbin explained that, after the rejection of the request of the Minister of Finance to be given more time to consult the expanded leadership of Parliament, one member of the Majority Caucus came to sit on the last row of the seats on the Majority side by the side-door facing the Speaker’s lobby.

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According to the Speaker, that took the number of attendants at the moment to 138. “So when the question was put by me to the Plenary, the Hon. Gentleman remained silent. I am asking Ghanaians to please disregard the survival antics by the ever loquacious Leader of the Majority Group in today’s hung Parliament.

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Alban Bagbin reiterated that, the budget was lawfully rejected. “The 2022 Budget is generating a lot of issues in the public domain and as to how long the dust will be settled on this is something everyone is yet to fathom.” He explained.

SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh