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Parliament is scheduled to commence debate on the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the government tomorrow, Tuesday, March 18 and ends on Monday, March 24, 2025.
The Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, announced this when he presented the Business Statement for the Tenth Week, from March 18 to March 21, 2025, on the floor of Parliament last Friday on behalf of the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga.
He said the committee had proposed the following time allotments for the debate: Majority Leader and Minority Leader would have 45 minutes each to speak, other leaders 30 minutes, Ministers 15 minutes, Chairpersons and Ranking Members of the Committee, 15 minutes, Vice-Chairpersons and Deputy Ranking Members, 10 minutes and other Members of Parliament (MPs), five minutes.
The debate follows the presentation of the budget statement to Parliament by the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, last Tuesday.
Mr Ricketts-Hagan, who is also the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Cape Coast South, announced that the House would also have extended sittings from Tuesday, March 18, 2025, to ensure that the business scheduled for the week was exhausted.
He said the House would also commence sittings on Mondays from March 24, 2025, onwards in view of the limited time and the volume of work in respect of the consideration of the Annual Budget Estimates and to pass the Appropriation Bill by the end of March.
The Deputy Majority Leader added that the House would also extend sitting beyond the prescribed sitting hours and urged the various committees of Parliament to sit in the mornings as plenary sittings would commence at 12 noon.
“The Business Committee urges the Ministry of Finance, other ministries and bodies to submit their sectoral estimates to Parliament on time for the consideration and approval of the House.
“Mr Speaker, in respect of the Annual Budget Estimates, the Business Committee urges Committees to expedite work and report on same to the House for consideration,” he said.
Mr Ricketts-Hagan said during the week, some Ministers of State would appear before the House to answer 24 questions asked of their various ministries, one being urgent and oral 23.
They are the ministers of Finance, Lands and Natural Resources, the Interior, Tourism and Creative Arts, Gender, Children and Social Protection, Education, Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Food and Agriculture, Youth Development and Empowerment, Environment, Science and Technology.
“Mr Speaker, in accordance with Order 159, Bills may be presented to the House for First Reading. However, those of an urgent nature may be taken through the various stages in a day in accordance with Order 160. Pursuant to Order 97, Papers may be laid during the week and reports from Committees may also be presented to the House for consideration,” he said.
