Today the minister of Finance came to Parliament with a prayer to have the opportunity to accommodate the comments made by the minority into the budget.
Key among them were
– request to include Ketamine relief efforts in the estimates
– request to adjust the e-levy
These and other requests of the minority led by Haruna Iddrisu require consultation and costing if the minister is to include them in the budget
Surprisingly the same minority who made the requests and the speaker have refused to give the minister the opportunity to incorporate their requests.
While refusing the minister the opportunity, the speaker went further to ask the finance minister whose budget is being debated, to leave the chamber. Shocking! At the same time, Johnson Asiedu Nketia NDC General Secretary was left seated. Mr Speaker ignored requests to ask all other strangers to leave the chamber and public galleries.
The majority are of the view that Mr Speaker is acting in bad faith and being partisan at such a crucial national junction. The majority is of the view that it cannot countermance an order by Mr Speaker for Marshals to take the Finance Minister out. The majority has consequently walked out.
Order 109 says the Speaker requires 138 members at least before he can put a question. He may have a quorum to take questions and statements but he needs 138 to put a question.
Any decision that is taken with less than 138 people in the chamber is void. Ghanaians should disregard the claim that the budget is rejected.