Mahama announces new oil and gas discovery in Tano Basin

Parliament will sit at 6:00 pm on Thursday, November 12, for the presentation of the 2027 Budget Statement after Speaker Alban Bagbin approved a request by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson to have it held in the evening.

The presentation, which is mostly done during Parliament's usual sitting hours has now been rescheduled following an adjustment by the house to suit the Finance Minister’s request for a change after giving valid reasons for it.

Speaker Bagbin announced the arrangement on Tuesday, November 10, while addressing MPs on the floor of Parliament.

He said he had granted the Finance Minister's request after he provided reasons for wanting to present the budget in the evening.

"I granted the Minister for Finance that the budget, which is to be presented on Thursday, to be presented in the evening. And he gave good reasons why he wants it to be presented in the evening," Bagbin said.

Although Majority Leader James Agalga announced November 12 as the date for the presentation last week, the Speaker's announcement on Tuesday confirmed the specific time for the exercise.

Bagbin further explained that the adjustment was to ensure MPs were not fatigued by the time the Finance Minister arrived in the chamber to present the statement.

"So on Thursday we will definitely adjust so that members don't sit too early so that by the time he comes you're already fatigued. And so Parliament may sit on Thursday around 6:00 p.m. so that we can prepare for his attendance," he told MPs.

The 2027 Budget Statement, titled "The New Economy", is expected to outline the government's revenue targets, expenditure priorities and job-creation measures. It comes after Dr Forson ruled out new loans to finance the programme and the Ministry of Finance published its 2027 Fiscal Strategy Document.

Ahead of the presentation, the Finance Minister briefed traditional leaders on the government's budget priorities on Monday.

The reading will be followed by a three-day parliamentary post-budget workshop in Ho, beginning Sunday, November 15.

About the New Economy Programme

The New Economy Programme is one of the Mahama administration's flagship initiatives.

It is a four-year economic transformation plan aimed at shifting Ghana from an import-dependent economy to one driven by local production, industrialisation and value addition.

The programme also seeks to promote private-sector-led job creation and is expected to mobilise at least US$13 billion between 2027 and 2030.