Today, Members of Parliament are expected to cast their votes on the 2024 budget statement.

This comes in the wake of Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin's, reiteration on November 30 that the 2024 budget statement and economic policy had not yet received approval.

In the preceding session, the Majority orchestrated a walkout during the endorsement of the statement, alleging that the Speaker was conducting himself in an unfortunate and improper manner. Their contention was that, after a voice vote on the floor, the Speaker initially ruled in favor of the Majority but reversed his decision when the Minority challenged the voice vote and insisted on a headcount.

The Majority also accused the Speaker of employing delaying tactics. They claimed that he ensured that members from the Minority, who were initially absent from the chamber, could rush in to be counted after the Speaker had instructed members to stand following the mention of their names for the count.

“What is happening is that there are five members of the minority who are not here, so all that he’s doing is to play for time to enable them to come to the chamber. That is it, that’s all that it is,” the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu had said.

In defense of his purported reversal, the Speaker clarified that he had expressed an opinion rather than issued a formal ruling.

He said, “So throughout the practice when it’s an opinion, you say I think, I think, that is an opinion I’m expressing. I think the ayes have it. Now an opportunity is created for somebody to challenge the opinion and so when you read 113 (2) it doesn’t talk about ruling, it talks about the opinion that’s why it says a member may call for a headcount or division if the opinion of Mr Speaker on a voice vote is challenged.”

On November 30, the Speaker directed the business committee to reschedule the headcount to today for a final decision to be taken on the budget.

According to him, the matter is not up for debate.