Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin
Parliament yesterday sought to walk back from its decision to hold this year’s post-budget workshop at the Rock City Hotel in the Eastern Region after taking a decision last Friday.
Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin had announced during the presentation of the Business Statement that the House would hold this year’s post-budget workshop at the Rock City Hotel.
“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, November 17 to Sunday, November 19, 2023 at the Rock City Hotel, Kwahu Nkwatia in the Eastern Region,” he said before the House adopted the Business Statement.
U-turn
However, the House backtracked and rescinded the decision and resolved to hold it in the precinct of Parliament after the Speaker of Parliament, Alban S.K. Bagbin expressed concern about it.
“There was no such decision taken. There was a proposal in the report of the Business Committee zoning on two areas – either Volta Serene Hotel or Rock City,” Mr. Bagbin pointed out.
According to him, the report by the Tender Committee as submitted did not recommend Rock City Hotel.
“The committee assessed a number of facilities, including Rock City Hotel and Serene Hotel. They looked at the suitability or otherwise; the availability of adequate rooms and facilities to enable us conduct an impactful post-budget workshop,” the Speaker intimated.
“Now the report of the Tender Committee looked at the estimates of the participants, the resource persons and the supporting staff and came out with recommendations.
“Please, any objective person and any patriot, looking at the report as a guide, will not say the post-budget workshop will be held at Rock City. A copy is there for anybody to come and read,” he asserted.
He added, “And as a Speaker, I will not short-change the interest of the country just because Hon. Bryan Acheampong is my friend; I won’t do that.”
Why Outside Parliament
Mr. Bagbin explained the reason Parliament always decides to hold the post-budget workshop outside Parliament, noting, “Experience has shown anytime we attempted to hold the post-budget workshop in Parliament, it has not been successful.”
“And that is why Parliament decided to be looking outside because there had been a lot of disruptions anytime we attempted doing it on the floor of Parliament,” he pointed out.
He acknowledged that the economic situation in the country did not require much spending, but argued that it was also good for the workshop to be held outside Accra to enable MPs to concentrate.
“Yes, we are aware of the economic situation in the country; we are sensitive to what is happening not only in Ghana but in the world.
“Budget unless we don’t want to do a good job or the country doesn’t want any input from Parliament, then we can decide to host it here and just let it pass,” he said.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House