The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority in Parliament has challenged Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman to participate in the debate on the 2025 budget statement and economic policy of government.
According to the caucus, as Chairperson of the government’s Economic Management Team (EMT), she should be present in the chamber to articulate the economic policies of the Mahama administration.
The Member of Parliament (MP), for Okaikwei Central, Mr. Patrick Yaw Boamah, made the call during discussions on the Business Statement for the week ending Friday, March 21, 2025.
He urged the Business Committee to formally extend an invitation to the Vice President for the budget debate.
Parliament is set to commence debate on the budget on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
Commenting on the Business Statement, Mr. Boamah stated, “Mr. Speaker, it is very important to see her in action on the floor to debate the President’s economic and financial policy, especially having been a former Minister for Education. It will be very important for her to be here to articulate the policy decisions of His Excellency President Mahama.”
The Okaikwei Central who is also the Chairman of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee of Parliament cited Article 111 of the 1992 Constitution to buttress his argument.
Article 111 of the Constitution stipulates that the Vice President, ministers, and deputy ministers who are not Members of Parliament are entitled to participate in proceedings and enjoy parliamentary privileges, except for voting and holding office.
Mr. Boamah wondered why the Vice President was left out when there was provision for non-MP ministers to take part in the debate.
“Mr. Speaker, I realised that the Business Committee has made allocations for ministers of state, leaving out the Vice President. It will be imperative to see her in action since she is this country’s first female Vice President. She should come and participate because the Constitution allows her to,” Mr. Patrick Boamah emphasised.
However, the Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, Isaac Adongo, expressed surprise at the Minority’s request, pointing out that Prof. Opoku Agyeman has the constitutional right to participate but cannot be compelled to do so.
He questioned how the Minority missed the opportunity to invite former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to join the debate when the NPP was in power.
“Only a few weeks ago, our colleagues in the Minority were on this side of the House. Did they ever programme Vice President Dr. Bawumia to appear in Parliament? Or did they assume that he was not entitled to?” Mr. Adongo asked.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Bernard Ahiafor acknowledged the Minority’s submission but argued that the Business Committee does not need to invite Vice President Opoku-Agyeman since participating in the budget debate is her entitlement.
He reiterated that Article 111 of the 1992 Constitution grants the Vice President the right to participate in proceedings.
He however stressed that if the Business Statement did not explicitly state this entitlement, it should not prevent her from participating.
