The Minority Caucus of Ghana’s Parliament staged a dramatic walkout midway through the Deputy Finance Minister’s closing remarks following the scheduled debate on the Mid-Year Budget Review.

The action by the opposition New Patriotic Party Caucus followed the conclusion of arguments from both the Majority and Minority sides on the government’s mid-year budget review, presented by the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato-Forson, on Thursday, July 24, 2025.

Deputy Minister for Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, was invited to deliver his final comments on behalf of the Finance Minister during proceedings on Thursday, July 31.

However, during his remarks, he addressed what he described as “misrepresentations” raised by the Minority faction, a move that drew sharp criticism.

Minority MPs argued that the Deputy Minister had exceeded his remit by responding directly to their arguments, which they claimed did not meet parliamentary conditions.

According to the Minority, it was wrong for the Deputy Minister to seek to name and rebut comments made by some of their members when those members would not have the opportunity to respond to him.

In contrast, the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Bernard Ahiafor, insisted the rules had been followed.

“We don’t give conditions upon which the minister should make his concluding comments. We cannot prevent the minister from making concluding comments,” he said.

The Minority Caucus, led by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, viewed the Deputy Minister’s remarks as a breach of procedural fairness and the allowances given to the Minority.

In protest, they exited the chamber, while members of the Majority bench responded with chants of “Away!” as they departed.

Addressing the media following the walkout, the Minority accused the Majority of abusing their numbers and the majoritarian system, while further accusing the Second Deputy Speaker of being complicit.

Minority walks out during Mid-Year Budget Review presentation

The Minority Caucus last week walked out of Parliament before the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Review presentation by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.

The walkout by the Caucus was in protest of alleged government inaction on electoral violence during the July 13 Ablekuma North rerun, which they claimed involved voter intimidation and state security misuse.

Despite Speaker Alban Bagbin’s promise of a future debate on the subject which the Minority had sought to address on the floor, the Caucus, in black attire, exited the Chamber.

ID/GA