The Parliamentary Majority Caucus has labeled the minority’s actions in opposing the 2022 budget as unlawful and hence should be rejected.
This information was made public by the Deputy Majority Leader and Effutu MP, Hon. Afenyo-Markins, in a press statement issued yesterday, November 26, 2021.
“For the record, the minority’s actions, as well as the speaker’s choice to endorse them, are unconstitutional and illegal, and should be disregarded…”, the statement stated in part.
According to the Majority Caucus, Article 104 of the 1992 constitution, as well as Order 109 of the Standing Orders of Parliament, the 137 members of Parliament do not have the authority to make decisions for parliament.
If the language and spirit of Article 104 are to be believed, the decision to adopt the budget should have been made with at least half of the members present, or 137.5, as opposed to the 137 who voted against it.
The Majority also expressed their concern with the Speaker’s partiality when he refused, among other things, to allow the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta, to accommodate his request.
In this regard, they have committed to uphold the 1992 constitution.