Ken Agyapong
Ken Agyapong

Assin Central Member of Parliament Kennedy Agyapong who has been outside the country for sometime now has arrived in Parliament to partake in the crucial vote on the 2022 budget.

Both caucuses of the House are gathering their members ahead of the vote to defend their positions.  Reports say the Majority side is still expecting Dome-Kwabenya MP Adwoa Safo who is also in the United States to return before the ballot.

The Minority have threatened they will vote against the budget because over the E-levy which is aimed at taxing Mobile Money transfers.

Earlier Speaker Alban Bagbin has suspended sitting as a result of the absence of NPP MPs in the House.

Members of Parliament from the governing NPP failed to show up for Friday’s sitting where the House is expected to conclude the debate on the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December, 2022.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs contend the move is because the Majority side does not have the full complement of their members for the impending decision on the government’s Economic Policy.

The Minority through Ningo-Prampram MP, Sam George had accused the Majority Caucus of deliberately delaying proceedings with their absence from the chamber as of midday Friday.

However, the Majority Chief whip, Frank Annor Dompreh, however refuted the claim by the Minority explaining that his side had been locked up in a caucus meeting as well as leadership meeting with the Speaker.

But, when the Speaker entered the Chamber at 16 minutes past 1:00pm, only the Minority MPs were present.

The development compelled the Speaker to suspend sitting after the Deputy Minority Whip, Ibrahim Ahmmed, raised the issue of the absence of the Majority Leadership in spite of their presence in the precincts of Parliament.