The Parliament of Ghana on Thursday, December 8 approved the 2024 budget, despite stiff opposition from the Minority.
Per the speaker’s declaration after the headcount, the Majority caucus accrued 138 votes. In contrast, the minority caucus had 136 votes with the absence of the Member of Parliament for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson on medical grounds.
Before the approval of the budget, the Speaker of Parliament, on Wednesday, November 29, declared a voice vote on the approval of the budget in favour of the Majority after the conclusion of the debate.
However, the Minority in parliament challenged the ruling and called for a headcount which sparked a heated debate between the two sides, forcing the Majority group to stage a walkout.
Subsequently, Rt. Hon Sumana Bagbin sided with the Minority caucus and announced that the headcount vote would be conducted on December 7, to aid either the approval or rejection of the economic policy and budget statement.
Declaring the approval of the economic policy and budget statement after the headcount, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, said, at the end of the headcount, the ‘ayes’ have it.
He stated that that is how the House has accordingly approved the government’s budget statement and economic policy for the year ending 31st December 2024.
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Source: Eric Sekyi/ATLFMNEWS