The Minority in Parliament has issued a formal request for Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang to attend Parliament on Tuesday, March 18, and participate in the debate on the 2025 Budget. This call is rooted in Article 111 of the Ghanaian Constitution, which explicitly grants the Vice President the right to partake in parliamentary proceedings. The Minority’s rationale is based on the Vice President’s extensive experience and expertise, particularly in the education sector, arguing that her contributions would enrich the debate and potentially influence government policy. They believe her presence would offer valuable insights and perspectives on the budget’s implications for various sectors, especially education, and would contribute to a more robust and informed discussion.
Patrick Yaw Boamah, the Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central, echoed this sentiment while responding to the forthcoming Business Statement, which outlines the parliamentary agenda. He noted that while the Business Committee had allocated time for various Ministers of State to contribute to the budget debate, the Vice President was conspicuously absent from the schedule. Boamah underscored the significance of the Vice President’s background in education, emphasizing that her insights should play a crucial role in shaping the government’s economic and financial policies. He argued that her perspective, honed through years of experience in the education sector, would be invaluable in assessing the budget’s potential impact on education and related areas.
Boamah further highlighted the historical significance of Professor Opoku-Agyemang’s position as the first female Vice President of Ghana, emphasizing the importance of her active participation in parliamentary proceedings. He called upon the Business Committee to amend the Business Paper, the official schedule of parliamentary business, to include an allocated time slot for the Vice President to address the House. He reiterated that the Constitution explicitly permits the Vice President’s participation, making her involvement not just permissible but potentially highly beneficial to the quality of the debate.
The Minority’s call and Boamah’s supporting arguments underscore the importance of inclusive and diverse perspectives in shaping national policy. They suggest that the Vice President’s participation in the budget debate would not only enrich the discussion with her specific expertise but also serve as a powerful symbol of inclusivity in Ghanaian politics. The request reflects a broader desire for a more participatory and collaborative approach to policymaking, where diverse voices are heard and considered.
The absence of the Vice President from the initial Business Statement raises questions about the extent to which her expertise is being leveraged in policy discussions. The Minority’s insistence on her inclusion suggests a perception that her voice and perspective are not being adequately incorporated into the government’s decision-making processes. Their appeal to the Business Committee represents an attempt to rectify this perceived oversight and ensure that the Vice President’s substantial experience is brought to bear on the crucial issue of the national budget.
By calling for the Vice President’s participation, the Minority aims to foster a more comprehensive and representative debate on the 2025 Budget. Their argument highlights the importance of drawing upon the diverse expertise and perspectives available within the government to ensure that policy decisions are well-informed and reflect the needs of all sectors of society. The ongoing discussion surrounding the Vice President’s potential involvement in the budget debate reflects a broader conversation about the role of inclusivity and diverse representation in shaping effective and equitable national policies.
