NDC MPs stay out of budget reading

As predicted two days ago, a good number of Members of Parliament of the ruling National Democratic Congress are absent from today’s reading of the 2016 Budget and Economic policy statement of the government.

The paper, which is being delivered by the Minister of Finance, Seth Terkper, on the floor of Parliament, has some legislators from the Majority absent.

As reported on November 11, the reason for their absence is not far from suggestions they feel betrayed by their own government.

Kasapafmonline.com is told that the aggrieved MPs planned to boycott the Budget presentation by remaining in their various constituencies to campaign for the upcoming Presidential and Parliamentary primaries of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Inside sources say the planned action is in protest against the Executive arm of government which many consider is sponsoring some candidates to unseat some incumbent Members of Parliament (MPs).

Since Parliament reconvened some three weeks ago, attendance has been poor with the Majority side of the House being the main casualty because of the November 21 Presidential and Parliamentary primaries of the NDC.

A similar situation happened to the Minority side of the House during the opposition New Patriotic Party’s Parliamentary primaries some months ago.

Our source tells us that in an attempt to avoid being embarrassed, the government has ordered all its Ministers and deputies to be in the Chamber of the House and fill the seats that would be left vacant by the aggrieved akatamansonian MPs.