The Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has insisted that 2024 is the ‘Nkunim’ (victory) budget.
Contributing to a debate on the 2024 budget statement in Parliament on Wednesday, November 29 , the Leader of Government Business in the House said “It is indeed the ‘Nkunim’ budget in which all of us should be well pleased and stand united to build back better.”
He further urged the House to approve the budget statement.”
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta for his part insisted that the government had turned the corner relative to the economic challenges.
He told Parliament after he was permitted by the First Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei Owusu who was moderating proceedings prior to the Speaker Alban Bagbin taking the chair, to contribute to a debate on the 2024 budget statement on Wednesday, November 29 that it is factual that the corner has turned.
He cited the downward trend of the rate of inflation and the stability of the local currency against the major trading ones especially, the Dollar as the indications of turning the corner.
“It is a fact that we have turned the corner,” he said.
He further indicated that the economy is in the right hands and urged the House to pass the budget to approve the budget.”
Meanwhile, the Minority Leader said the budget has not been passed.
He accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of lacking the numbers to approve the 2024 budget statement.
This was after the Majority walked out when the house was about to vote on the budget on Wednesday, November 29.
Addressing the press, Dr Ato Forson said “The NPP does not have the numbers to approve their own budget, sensing defeat they decided to walk out. The NDC MPs were ready to vote against the budget.
“Our position is that we can allow the budget to go through in its current form, because the ordinary Ghanaian will suffer. John Kumah is not here, Kennedy Agyapong is not here and sensing defeat they walked out, we will not stop, we will do what we have to do. The Budget has not been approved.”
The Majority Members of Parliament staged a walkout when Parliament was about to approve the 2024 budget statement.
They disagreed with the way the Speaker Alban Bagbin was conducting the business. They accused the Speaker of delaying proceedings in order for the Minority to have their full numbers in the House.
“Sam George is not here, Zanetor is not here, Mahama Ayariga, is not here so five of their members are not here. All the speaker is doing is to delay time for their members to come,” Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu told journalists after they walked out.
The Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin had to suspend sitting.
This makes it the second time they are walking out on their own budget after they first did so on the 2022 budget statement which introduced the e-levy.
Ningo-Prampram Lawmaker Samuel Nartey George, however rubbished the claim that he was not in Parliament.