Members of Parliament are expected to approve the 2024 budget statement and government’s economic policy for the year ending December 31, 2024, through a headcount vote today, December 7, 2023.
After a week-long debate on the 2024 budget statement, members had to approve the budget to enable government to spend in the coming year but members were divided on the process leading to the Speaker rescheduling the approval.
On Wednesday, November 29, Speaker Alban Bagbin declared a voice vote on the approval of the budget in favour of the Majority but the Minority Caucus challenged the ruling and opted for a headcount.
The challenge from the Minority did not sit well with the Majority as they argued that the Speaker had already ruled in their favor.
This resulted in a back and forth but the Majority eventually agreed for the headcount only to stage a walkout, accusing the Speaker of delaying the process to allow some Minority MPs who were not in the chamber to make their way in.
On Thursday, November 30, Speaker, Alban Bagbin, subsequently announced that the headcount vote would be conducted today, December 7, on the approval of the economic policy and budget statement of the government.
