Afenyo-Markin challenges Bagbin over budget ruling

The Minority in Parliament is seeking a review of Speaker Alban Bagbin’s ruling on how the national Budget Statement and Economic Policy should be presented and debated in the House, arguing that the decision on the appropriate procedure must be made before the Finance Minister delivers the budget.

The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has thrown his support behind a Private Members’ Motion filed by the First Deputy Whip, Habib Iddrisu, seeking a reconsideration of the Speaker’s earlier ruling on the matter.

The disagreement centres on a ruling made by Speaker Bagbin last year, which allowed Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson to present the Budget Statement before Parliament, with the question of whether it should subsequently be debated as a statement or a motion determined after its presentation.

However, the Minority Leadership disagrees with that approach, insisting that Parliament must first determine the appropriate form of debate before the Finance Minister presents the budget.

According to the Minority, the procedure should not be decided after the presentation, as was permitted under the Speaker’s earlier ruling.

The matter came up during proceedings in Parliament when Bagbin asked the Minority to clarify the subject matter under discussion.

Iddrisu subsequently raised a point of order, prompting further exchanges over the Minority’s application.

The Speaker, however, was not satisfied with the explanation provided by the Minority's front bench. He urged the leadership to reconsider its application and submit further particulars before the matter could be admitted for debate and a subsequent ruling.

The request for additional details means the Minority’s attempt to have the earlier decision reviewed is yet to proceed to substantive debate.

EA