Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has rejected the use of hotels for the post-budget workshop this year, citing the current financial challenges facing the country.

This comes after Deputy Minority Leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin announced on Friday, November 10, that the workshop would take place at Rock City Hotel, owned by Member of Parliament for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong.

Presenting the business statement for the week, Afenyo-Markin stated, “The usual post-budget workshop would be organised to allow experts to elucidate further on the underpinnings of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government to Hon. Members.

The workshop is expected to be held from Friday, 17 to Sunday, 19th November 2023 at the Rock City Hotel, Kwahu Nkwatia in the Eastern Region."

Nevertheless, on Monday, November 13, the Speaker of Parliament voiced reservations about the situation, highlighting public opposition to placing an extra financial burden on the state coffers.

He clarified that the decision to use Rock City as the venue for the post-budget review was not made by the House.

Additionally, he mentioned that while both Volta Serene and Rock City had submitted their invoices, Rock City's cost was considerably high, leading him to reject it.

“I believe that democracy has finally decided and the people have prevailed on their representatives to decide that this year’s post-budget workshop be held here in parliament.

"Reporting on Saturday early in the morning, we will use the floor of the house as the main conference,” he said.