2022 Budget in limbo after fireworks and drama in parliament but C’ttee set up to build consensus

Ghana’s 2022 Budget and Fiscal Policy is in limbo after fireworks and drama in parliament upon procedural impropriety and breach of Standing Orders by First Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei Owusu over the motion of recession filed by Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu to overturn the purported reversal of minority’s earlier rejection of the economic policy by majority caucus.

Osei Owusu failed to allow for votes on the motion of recession filed by Haruna Iddrisu and attempted to bend the rules in favour his colleagues in the majority because they didn’t have enough MPs to win the debates, a decision that will affirm the rejection of the budget. This resulted in chaotic scenes but was quenched by the Marshals of Parliament after Ashaiman MP pulled the Bekwai MP’s chair in anger.

To resolve the matter, a twenty-Member Committee has been set up to build consensus on the approval of the budget before proceedings resumes on Tuesday December 7.

Meanwhile, Minority in Parliament is insisting their motion for recision in respect of last Tuesday’s approval of the budget statement is still pending. This according to Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga is in line with the record of proceedings available.

Earlier reports captured the Speaker to have ruled against the motion as moved by the Minority Leader, Haruna Idrissu. But the votes and proceedings of Wednesday December 1 indicates that the Speaker rather sought to make a ruling but was interrupted. Addressing the press in Parliament, MP for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayarigah argues that, stemming from the votes and proceedings, the minority will insist that the Speaker puts the question for a decision to be taken.

Meanwhile MP for Adansi Asokwa, KT Hammond has confirmed that a partisan committee has been put together by leadership to resolve the budget impasse.

In related development, Bernard Monah’s group Justice for Ghana says they intend to picket at parliament until tax on momo and other digital transactions is scrapped from the 2020 Budget.

Source: africaneditors.com