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The Finance Minister is set to present the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament, but the Majority side is largely empty, with only a handful of NDC MPS and a few cabinet ministers in attendance.

Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader, has expressed his disappointment at the low turnout of government ministers. He said, "We are happy the Finance Minister is here. My main concern is that on the government side, I see a lot of empty seats. This tells us how the government side takes this budget."

Background

The presentation of the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review is a significant event in the country's financial calendar. The budget is expected to outline the government's financial priorities and address concerns raised by the Minority. However, the low attendance of government ministers has raised questions about their commitment to the budget.

Afenyo-Markin has criticized the government for not taking the budget seriously. He noted that only a handful of cabinet ministers were present in the chamber, saying, "I can count the number of cabinet ministers here."

What This Means

The empty seats on the Majority side indicate a lack of urgency and seriousness from the government. Afenyo-Markin has interpreted this as a sign that the government is not taking the budget seriously. He said, "If they have decided not to come in their numbers, it's fine. We are sending the signal."

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The low attendance of government ministers has also raised concerns about the effectiveness of the budget presentation. Afenyo-Markin has urged the Finance Minister to address the issues raised by the Minority, including concerns surrounding the government's "Nkokɔ Nkitinkiti" poultry initiative.

What Happens Next

The Finance Minister is expected to present the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review, despite the low attendance of government ministers. Afenyo-Markin has said that the Minority is ready to listen to the budget presentation and respond to the issues raised by the government. The outcome of the budget presentation will be closely watched, and it remains to be seen how the government will respond to the concerns raised by the Minority.

Source: JOY