Story by Nathaniel Nartey
Facebook: Nathaniel Nartey
Twitter: @Annertey_Nartey
The phenomenon of MPs walking out of Parliament to protest against the passing of Bills and other issues before the House, has often been associated with the Minority. Such situations often do not affect proceedings as the Majority usually have the numbers to push their agenda. Many are surprised at the situation where the Majority in Parliament did not return after the break for the passage of the budget last Friday, when the House had concluded debates on it and had to vote.
GBC News finds out from the Executive Director of the Africa Center for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Rasheed Draman, if “walking out” of Parliament is an acceptable act.
He told Nathaniel Nartey, there is nothing wrong with MPs staging a walk out of Parliament, adding that the practice has been used by Parliamentarians as a strategy over the years, to advance their agenda.
He said with the current situation in Ghana’s Parliament regarding the budget, both sides of the House need to have broader consultations for the passage of the budget.
“Walkout is part of Parliamentary strategy to put pressure mainly on the Majority but this is the first time we are seeing a walk out by the majority.but there is nothing wrong with it only that in this instance the timing of the walk out is wrong…..what needs to be done is to make sure the conversation goes on between the two sides”.
Meanwhile, some Political Parties have joined the call for broader stakeholder consultations on the issue. General Secretary of the CPP, Nana Yaa Jantuah, said the decision by the Majority MPs to stay away from the budget approval is surprising.
“It just shows clearly that this government does not do broader stakeholder Consultations and it also shows how the system has failed. There is the need for them (majority in Parliament) to talk to people more. It was interesting for the Finance Minister to say on the floor of that House he wanted to meet leadership in caucus, that was wrong”.
Founder of the All Peoples Congress, APC, Dr. Hassan Ayariga, expressed similar sentiment.
“I think that broader consultations is an important tool in governance so going forward broader consultations and consensus between political parties to find solutions is the best way to go”.
National Secretary of the PPP, Remy Edmondson, said there should be no rush in passing the Budget.
“We totally support a complete rejection of this killer budget and we believe that the Finance Minister needs to engage with stakeholders. Prior to introducing a new budget, the government should have engaged opposition parties, CSOs and other bodies so they can agree on a Budget that the people can bear and deal with”.
