2024 Budget Approved By Parliament

After a week long wait, Ghana’s legislative house has approved the 2024 budget statement and economic policy of government following a headcount decision on Thursday December 7, 2023.

The Majority caucus had 138 votes while the minority caucus had 136 votes.

The time lapse for the aprroval of the 2024 budget is probably the longest in the history of Ghana’s 4th republican parliamentary democracy after a debate is concluded on any budget statement.

It would be recalled that, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, on Wednesday, November 29, after the debate declared a voice vote for the approval in favour of the Majority.

The Minority Caucus however revoked the rules governing procedure and challenged the Speaker’s ruling and opted for a headcount in accordance with Order 113 (2) of the Standing Orders.

The Majority group staged a walkout as a result ostensibly because they donot have the numbers on the day to carry the budget through.

The Speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, subsequently announced that the headcount vote would be conducted on December 7, 2023.

Thursday’s approval has thus paved the way for the approval of budget estimates for the various minisitries, departments and agencies and the appropriation act  to allow the Finance Minister spend the requested amount of funds from the consolidated fund and other public funds.

Speaker Bagbin in announcing the result the headcount said, “At the end of the headcount, the ‘ayes’ had 138, Nos were 136, one absent. The ayes have it. The 2024 budget has been approved.”

By: Christian Kpesese/www.eagleghana.com