Speaker Alban Bagbin Slams NPP Majority for Blaming NDC Over Mini-Budget Delay

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has strongly rebuked the New Patriotic Party (NPP) majority caucus for placing blame on the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the ongoing delay in the presentation of the government’s mini-budget.

During a parliamentary session on Thursday, December 19, 2024, Habib Iddrisu, the First Deputy Majority Whip, accused the NDC minority of stalling the process by engaging in internal disputes over parliamentary leadership.

Iddrisu specifically pointed to the delay in the sitting, attributing it to disagreements over the distribution of majority and minority positions.

“We recalled parliament for this purpose, but we were busy fighting over who becomes the majority and minority.

So tomorrow it will be done,” Iddrisu stated, referring to the delayed presentation of the mini-budget.

However, Speaker Bagbin was quick to refute this claim, labeling it as baseless and unfair. In a firm response, Bagbin clarified that the delay was not due to the actions of the NDC minority but was caused by other undisclosed reasons.

He further chastised the majority for accusing the Speaker or the opposition of causing the delay, reminding them that they had boycotted sittings earlier in the week.

“You boycotted sitting yesterday and two days ago in my absence, making statements as if the delay was caused by the Speaker or the minority. That is untrue,” Bagbin stated.

The Speaker also warned the majority not to push him into revealing details that could damage the reputation of the NPP.

The presentation of the mini-budget, which addresses crucial fiscal matters, has faced mounting pressure due to the ongoing delays.

Finance Minister Dr. Amin Adams has been absent from parliamentary proceedings for four consecutive days, leaving critical fiscal issues unresolved as the new year approaches.

Minority Leader, Dr. Ato Forson, expressed his frustration over the situation, urging the Finance Minister to fulfill his constitutional duties. Forson warned that further delay could lead to serious legal and political consequences.

As the impasse continues, there is growing concern among lawmakers and the public about the government’s ability to manage pressing financial issues effectively during this critical transitional period.