Parliament reapproved the 2024 budget statement and the government’s economic policy for the fiscal year beginning 1 January and ending 31 December 2024 by a 138-136 majority vote.
The House proceeded to perform a head count to approve the budget on Thursday, 7 December 2023, after Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta presented the motion to reapprove the budget.
Following the counting, Speaker Alban Bagbin presented the results, indicating that the “Eyes” had it and that the “budget for 2024 is accordingly approved.”
On Friday, November 29, 2023, Minister of Finance Ken Ofori Atta allayed Ghanaians’ worries that the 2024 budget had been rejected by Parliament.
On the contrary, Mr. Ofori-Atta stated that the 2024 budget had been passed, however, the minority contested the government’s ratification of the 2024 budget statement and economic strategy during the House sitting on (29 November).
After a voice vote at the end of the discussion, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, declared that the “Eyes” had it, indicating that the budget had been passed.
Deputy Minority Leader Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, on the other hand, protested the Speaker’s decision and requested a headcount to contest it.
The majority, on the other hand, expressed reservations about how the Speaker handled the headcount, which they claim was biased against the minority and violated standing regulations.
The majority caucus then staged a walkout and boycott of the headcount process, resulting in the house’s initial suspension and eventual adjournment.
Speaking to the media after the suspension, Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta stated that the 2024 budget has been passed in his opinion since the Speaker’s verdict after the voice vote confirmed that the “Yes” had it in passing the budget.
He stated that the present impasse is a result of the budget’s adoption and that it would be resolved when the House reconvenes.
Following the adoption of the 2024 budget, Parliament will now take up the appropriations and pass the measure before the House adjourns on Friday, December 22, 2023.
