Minority Unhappy Over Finance Minister’s Absence From Parliament -During Debate On Budget

The Minority in Parliament on Thursday questioned the continued absence of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta from Parliament during debate on the 2022 Budget statement he presented to the House.

Deputy Minority Chief Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim, raised the concerns wondering what could keep the Minister away from his all-important duty to sit in and pick notes as Parliament considers his budget.

 According to him, Ofori-Atta’s absenteeism means he will not be in a position to note down points and revert to the House later. 

“The Minister of Finance moved a motion on behalf of the president. We are debating the motion to make alternative inputs to be sent to the president, who sent him to bring the motion to us…If the President sends you to bring us the budget statement and Economic Policy, it’s necessary we are going to suggest alternative solutions. The Minister for finance must be here, to take notice of all the alternative solutions that are going to be proposed and send it to the president.” said Hon. Ibrahim quizzed.

However, the Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, accused the Minority of seeking to score cheap political points by making an issue out of Ofori-Atta’s absence.

“Mr. I am surprised at the Deputy Minority Whip. The Finance Minister and his deputies joined Parliament in Ho for the post-budget workshop. They take parliament seriously. Mr. Speaker, they (Minority) have been in government before and they know in moments like these, the Ministry will be engaged in a lot of activities… if it is all about every day trying to score cheap political points, they may do so,” he said.

Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joe Osei Owusu, who sat in for the Speaker, Alban Bagbin, ruled that Ofori-Atta’s presence was not strictly required during debates. 

“There are senior analysts from the Ministry in House” who can represent the Minister….Otherwise, could anybody here tell me where in our standing orders that says the Minister should be here,” the stand-in Speaker of Parliament said.