Haruna Iddrisu is not in support of the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu’s dismissal of his motion seeking a reversal of 2022 budget approval. He added that the Minority Caucus in Parliament will pursue the motion when Alban Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament returns from his medical tip on December 14, 2021.
Mr. Iddrisu filed a motion challenging the First Deputy Speaker’s ruling after his earlier motion seeking to reverse the approval of the 2022 budget was rejected. He had argued that the December 1 ruling contravenes the Rules, Conventions, and Practices of the House and was actuated by bias.
Mr. Iddrisu in a statement on December 13, 2021, explained that NDC Minority Caucus which he lead, and himself, vehemently disagree with their position on the motion and their conduct in this matter. They take the strong view that their conduct affronts Orders 79, 81, 82, and 90 of our standing orders and can no longer be tolerated.
“In that regard, we are resolved to pursue this matter further with the Right Honourable Speaker upon his return,” Haruna added
In his response to the First Deputy Speaker’s letter rejecting the Minority Leader’s motion.
Parliament on December 1, 2021, approved the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of government in the absence of Minority MPs.
Following a motion by the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, and a vote by the House, the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu, ruled that the earlier decision by the House to reject the budget was in error and in violation of Article 104 (1), and caused it to be expunged from the records.
The 2022 budget was approved by Parliament without the Minority Caucus accepting it. The Minority Leader wanted to reverse the approval of the budget with his earlier motion.