Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has announced that the 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy will be presented to the House at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 12. He made this known on Tuesday, November 10, following his approval of a request by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson to deliver the budget during an evening sitting.
Mr Bagbin disclosed that the Finance Minister had provided justification for the proposed change in schedule, although he did not reveal the specific reasons behind the request. “I granted the Minister for Finance that the budget, which is to be presented on Thursday, be presented in the evening. And he gave good reasons why he wants it to be presented in the evening,” he stated.
The Speaker further indicated that Parliament would revise its sitting arrangements to ensure that lawmakers were not exhausted before the Finance Minister’s presentation. He explained that the House was expected to commence proceedings at about 6:00 p.m. to accommodate the scheduled presentation.
“So on Thursday we will definitely adjust so that members don’t sit too early so that by the time he comes you’re already fatigued. And so Parliament may sit on Thursday around 6:00 p.m. so that we can prepare for his attendance,” he added. The 2027 Budget is expected to set out the government’s economic policy priorities for the coming year, including revenue and expenditure projections, job creation initiatives and key development programmes.
Its presentation comes against the backdrop of calls from businesses and other stakeholders for policies aimed at lowering the cost of doing business, expanding access to credit and encouraging investment in agriculture and local production.
