Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin
The 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the government will be presented to Parliament at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 12, Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has announced.
The adjustment in the sitting time follows a request by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, for the budget to be presented in the evening.
Mr. Bagbin said the request had been granted after the Finance Minister provided reasons for the proposed change.
Addressing the House yesterday, the Speaker explained that parliamentary business was dynamic and could require sittings to be held outside the usual prescribed hours, depending on the volume and nature of business before the House.
He cited Order 55 (4) of Parliament’s Standing Orders, which empowers the Speaker to direct that the House sits at a different time when circumstances demand.
He said he would continue to exercise that authority whenever necessary to ensure the smooth conduct of parliamentary business.
Explaining the decision to schedule Thursday’s sitting for the evening, Mr. Bagbin said the adjustment was intended to prevent Members of Parliament (MPs) from becoming fatigued before the Finance Minister arrived to present the budget.
He indicated that the House would therefore adjust its sitting arrangements to accommodate the Finance Minister’s attendance at approximately 6:00 p.m.
Earlier on, Mr. Bagbin had announced that parliamentary sittings will commence at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, with proceedings expected to end at about 7:00 p.m.
The new arrangement, which takes effect immediately, is intended to provide certainty in the scheduling of parliamentary business, strengthen committee work and improve the coordination of parliamentary activities.
The Speaker explained that the decision followed considerable variations in the commencement of sittings since the revised Standing Orders came into force in January 2024.
He recalled that Parliament previously commenced sittings at 10:00 a.m., but the starting time had since varied between noon, 2:00 p.m. and, on some occasions, 3:00 p.m., depending on the demands of parliamentary business.
He said the absence of a consistent starting time had created difficulties for MPs, ministers, the Business Committee, committee chairpersons and the Parliamentary Service in planning their activities.
Citing Orders 5 and 55 of the Standing Orders, the Speaker said he was exercising his authority to establish 2:00 p.m. as the regular commencement time for ordinary parliamentary sittings.
Mr. Bagbin explained that the arrangement was informed by five considerations, including the need to strengthen parliamentary committee work, improve ministerial attendance, address punctuality challenges, enhance public access to parliamentary proceedings and ensure more efficient scheduling of business.
He said the new timetable would allow parliamentary committees to use the morning hours to scrutinise bills, examine referrals, engage public officials and other stakeholders, and prepare reports for consideration by the House.
He stressed that the decision did not mean Parliament’s working day would begin at 2:00 p.m., explaining that mornings would remain dedicated largely to committee meetings and other parliamentary responsibilities.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House