The Parliamentary Service has launched an investigation into Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Osei Kyei-Mensah-recent Bonsu’s comments on the Speaker over the budget statement impasse in 2022.
The picture painted by the Majority Leader is “erroneous,” according to a statement released by Parliament’s Public Affairs Directorate on Friday.
This follows statements by a Suame lawmaker that Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin is to blame for the rejection of Ken Ofori-budget Atta’s presented on Wednesday, November 17. However, less than a week later, the decision was overruled.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu told media on Thursday, December 23, that the Speaker had threatened to influence the budget’s rejection if Parliament did not receive around 2% of the government’s overall revenue.
The Majority Leader reveals everything! Bagbin’s’rejection’ of the 2022 budget
In a statement, the Service said on behalf of the Speaker’s Office, “This is a gross distortion of what transpired at the meeting.”
“It is not the Speaker’s responsibility to reject or accept budgets.” Only Members of Parliament can approve or reject a bill.”
It went on to say that a budget has two parts: expenditures and revenues.
“The expenditure has been subjected to the necessary parliamentary procedures. The revenue is really impressive.
“As a result, the picture painted by the Majority Leader with his remarks is false.”
The statement backed up the Speaker’s demand for additional funding to keep the Service in charge of oversight.
“It’s ironic that instead of supporting efforts to guarantee enough budgetary provision for Parliament, which he represents, the Majority Leader opted to align himself with the executive to starve Parliament of the funding it needs to function efficiently.”
The report stated that the Speaker “had no intention of doing anything that will jeopardize our country’s progress.”
I’m doing everything I can to support the government’s agenda – Bagbin
