Budget Chokes Osafo-Maafo, Speaker Goes to His Rescue

There was drama in Parliament while the Finance Minister, Yaw Osafo Marfo was presenting the 2002 budget. The Finance Minister stopped about two hours into the almost three hours presentation, and this attracted laughter and teasing from members of the House. It all started when the Finance Minister suddenly went mute after drinking a glass of water and started coughing.

This attracted comments from minority members who could be heard saying “more more” After what looked like a good and welcome gulp, the cough intensified. When it was realized that the Minister was in some difficulty, the Member of Parliament for Tarkwa Nsuaem, Gifty Kwofie, quickly rushed to offer the Minister some lozenges.

At the same time, Foreign Minister, Hackman Owusu Agyeman pulled up a chair for his tired colleague to sit down and have a breather. However, Mr. Osafo Marfo did not do so until the Speaker, Peter Ala Adjetey asked him to take a breather for some five minutes and a seat was offered him. The Tourism Minister, Madam Hawa Yakubu went in with a book to fan him. A member from the minority side, also holding a newspaper walked across the Finance Minister and started fanning him.

This action drew more laughter from members from both sides of the House and visitors in the public gallery. The minority began counting as if the Minister was in a boxing arena and at the end of count 10, they waved their hands as if he had been technically knocked out.

However after just two minutes, Mr. Osafo Marfo returned to the dispatch box and continued with his presentation. He rounded up the presentation after which members of the majority gave him a standing ovation. The minority time however stayed glued to their seat.