Parliamentary Stalemate Threatens Presidential Swearing-In – Former Sunyani West MP Warns
Former Sunyani West MP highlights risks to government operations and public sector payments due to ongoing deadlock
- Parliament must approve the national budget by December 31st to avoid a financial shutdown
- Without budget approval, government workers may not receive their salaries starting in January.
- The parliamentary deadlock could halt government operations and projects across the country.
Former Sunyani West MP, Hon. Kwadwo Agyei-Darko, has raised concerns that the ongoing deadlock in Parliament could disrupt the swearing-in ceremony of the next president.
He warned that if Parliament fails to approve a budget by December 31, 2024, there will be no funds to facilitate the event.
Hon. Agyei-Darko, speaking on the Ghana Se Sen Morning Show on Lawson TV/Radio, explained that the delay in budget approval could have broader economic consequences, including the non-payment of government workers’ salaries and the halt of government projects.
He emphasized that without parliamentary approval, no government institution would have funds to operate, leaving civil servants without pay and government services in limbo.
“It’s true that this will impact salaries. Normally, the government presents the budget for the upcoming year, but due to ongoing controversies, the budget has not yet been read. Parliament must approve it before December 31st, and if this doesn’t happen, no government institution will have funds to operate come January. Civil servants won’t receive their salaries because the government won’t have an approved budget to draw from,” he told Kwame Tanko.
The former MP’s comments follow Speaker Alban Bagbin’s decision to adjourn Parliament indefinitely due to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs’ refusal to attend after requesting the recall of Parliament.
Hon. Agyei-Darko called on Ghanaians to set aside political differences and demand a resolution to the deadlock, as the ongoing crisis will impact all citizens.
