As parliament reconvenes today, parliamentary watchdog, African Center for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA) is calling on the minority caucus to thoroughly scrutinize government policies and bills that will be presented before the House for consideration.
Two newly elected legislators from the governing National Democratic Congress Bernard Bediako Baidoo of Akwatia and Professor Alidu Seidu of Tamale Central are also expected to be sworn in today, as the House begins the third and final meeting of the session, which will also see the approval of the 2026 Budget.
Speaking to Starr News ahead of today’s sitting, Executive Director of ACEPA, Dr. Rasheed Draman, appealed to the minority to remain vigilant.
“There are high expectations for the upcoming meeting of Parliament, which is a key event on our national calendar. This session is particularly important, as it will focus on the government’s economic policy and the approval of the national budget.
Given the significant majority currently held by the NDC, I sincerely hope this does not result in the budget being passed without proper scrutiny. There is a real concern that the proposals presented by the government might simply be glossed over, without the detailed examination they deserve.
This concern is based on our recent political history. Over the years, we’ve seen successive Parliaments where one party held a majority; though not as substantial as the NDC’s current majority; and yet, budgets were often passed with minimal interrogation.
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It wasn’t until the eighth Parliament that we saw a real shift. Parliament demonstrated its power to hold the Executive accountable and negotiate major policies. The debates over the E-Levy, for instance, showed how both sides of the House could engage in meaningful negotiation and compromise during budget discussions.
I hope that spirit of accountability continues, despite the overwhelming majority the NDC now enjoys. They must not disappoint the country. They have a responsibility to challenge the Finance Minister, scrutinize the budget proposals thoroughly, and act in the best interest of Ghanaians, their party, and the mandate they’ve been given.”
Touching on the issue of increasing absenteeism, Dr. Draman also called on the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to “crack the whip” on members who fail to attend sittings regularly.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Benjamin Sackey
