Members on the Majority side of Parliament on Wednesday staged a walkout during the process of approving the 2024 budget.
The walkout occurred after the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, put the motion on a voice vote and declared the "Ayes" by the Majority as having carried the motion
However, the Speaker's ruling was challenged by the Minority Caucus, who argued that there was no clear distinction between the "Ayes" and the "Nays" during the voice vote.
Invoking Order 113(2), the Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Kofi Armah-Buah, called for a headcount or division to determine the outcome of the vote. The Speaker, adhering to the Minority's request, instructed the Clerks at the Table to conduct the headcount.
Speaker Bagbin informed the House that each MP's name would be called out for them to stand up and be counted. However, the Majority Caucus strongly objected to the Speaker's decision, maintaining that he had already declared the "Ayes" in favour of the motion and should stand by his ruling.
They accused the Speaker of delaying proceedings in order for the Minority to have their full numbers in the House.
“Sam George is not here, Zanetor is not here, Mahama Ayariga, is not here so five of their members are not here. All the speaker is doing is to delay time for their members to come,” Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu told journalists after they walked out.
The Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta presented the 2024 budget policy document in Parliament on November 15, 2023.