Parliament scrap plans to hold 2027 Budget workshop outside parliamentary premises

Parliament has abandoned plans to hold its post-budget workshop in the Volta Region, opting to organise the exercise at the Chamber of Parliament in Accra following opposition from the Minority, as preparations begin for a week of debate on the 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy. The decision brings an end to the proposed arrangement to move the workshop outside the parliamentary premises, with lawmakers now expected to undertake the exercise within the House over two days.

The change was announced by Majority Leader James Agalga during the presentation of the Business Statement, in which he outlined the revised arrangements for the workshop and the schedule for the budget debate. According to Mr Agalga, the workshop will take place from Monday, November 16, to Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at the Chamber of Parliament, with proceedings beginning at 9 a.m. on each day.

“Honourable members are reminded that the post-budget workshop would be held from Monday 16th to Tuesday 17th November 2026 at the Chamber of Parliament at 9 a.m. each day.” he announced. He further informed the House that there would be no parliamentary sitting on Tuesday, November 17, to allow members to take part in the workshop. “In view of the above, the House will not sit on Tuesday , November 17.

Sitting will accordingly commence on Wednesday November 18,” he added. Mr Agalga urged MPs to take note of the revised arrangements and make themselves available for the exercise, which will precede the formal debate on the government’s economic policy. Budget debate to begin on November 18 Beyond the workshop, the Business Statement also outlined Parliament’s programme for examining the 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy.

The debate has been scheduled to begin on Wednesday, November 18, and continue until Tuesday, November 24, 2026. Mr Agalga explained that the Business Committee had programmed the exercise in accordance with Order 195(3) of Parliament’s Standing Orders. “The Business Committee has programmed the commentary on the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government to commence on Wednesday 18th and end on Tuesday 24th November 2026,” he told the House.

The Majority and Minority Leaders are expected to deliver the concluding contributions on Wednesday, November 25, bringing the scheduled commentary to a close. The arrangement will allow members from both sides of the House to present their views on the government’s budget proposals and economic policy direction for the 2027 fiscal year. Presenting the Business Committee’s recommendations, Majority Leader James Agalga told the House that the Majority Leader and Minority Leader would each be allocated 35 minutes to contribute to the debate, while other parliamentary leaders would have 20 minutes.

He said Ministers of State, chairpersons and ranking members of parliamentary committees would each be given 15 minutes, with vice-chairpersons and deputy ranking members allocated 10 minutes. Mr Agalga further stated that other Members of Parliament would have seven minutes each to present their contributions. He informed the House that the debate would run from November 18 to 24, 2026, with the Majority and Minority Leaders expected to conclude proceedings on November 25.