Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader, has questioned the decision to schedule the presentation of the 2027 Budget for 6 p.m.
The Minority Leader accused the Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, of deliberately choosing a time when Ghanaians will be sleeping.
Afenyo-Markin expressed concern about the unusual timing, suggesting that the government may be attempting to avoid public scrutiny of its economic policies.
The Minority argued that the Finance Minister should have no reason to present the Budget late in the evening if he is confident about the government’s economic performance and the financial statement.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, the Minority Leader stated, “We find it very strange that the Finance Minister has chosen 6 p.m. as the only time for him to come, because he wants Ghanaians to be sleeping”.
He further questioned the justification for the timing, asking why the Minister would prefer an evening presentation.
Beyond that, Afenyo-Markin also raised concerns about other government activities reportedly scheduled around the same period, citing the launch of the new Heritage Cedi.
His comment follows Speaker Alban Bagbin’s announcement that the 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy will be presented to Parliament at 6 pm on Thursday, November 12 by the Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.
Speaker Bagbin disclosed this in Parliament on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, saying he had approved a request by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson for the presentation to take place in the evening.
He stated, “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”.
Alban Bagbin further disclosed that Parliament would adjust its sitting schedule to ensure members are not fatigued before the Finance Minister’s 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 said.
In related news, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minister of Finance, has assured Ghanaians that the government will not borrow loans to finance its proposed New Economy Programme.
The Finance Minister disclosed that the initiative will be funded through domestic revenue and savings from fiscal consolidation.
According to Ato Forson, the government plans to commit 1.5 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually between 2027 and 2030 to the programme without adding to the country’s public debt.
He made this known while responding to concerns about the source of funding for the programme during an interactive engagement with students and members of the university community at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
Ato Forson detailed that the funding would come from two main sources: an allocation of 0.5 per cent of GDP from government revenue and a reduction in the primary surplus target from 1.5 per cent to 0.5 per cent of GDP.
He revealed that the two sources would create the fiscal space needed to invest in the programme, with the total allocation potentially reaching at least US$13 billion over four years.
Hon. Fiifi Kwetey has arrived at the NDC headquarters for vetting as the party’s National Secretary aspirant. He is going unopposed for the position. https://t.co/zIqOVPIQ6n
— GHnow (@ghnow_) November 11, 2026
