The New Patriotic Party (NPP) does not have the numbers to approve the 2024 budget statement, the Minority Leader in Parliament Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has said.
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 of 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.