The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, was compelled to suspend the debate on the budget presented by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.

The decision to suspend the debate arose from the absence of any representative from the finance ministry to participate in the discussions and take notes.

Neither the finance minister nor his two deputies were present in the chamber when the debate was set to commence on that day.

Members of the minority, particularly former minority leader Haruna Iddrisu and the First Deputy Chief Whip of the minority, Ahmed Ibrahim, expressed dissatisfaction with the absence of the finance minister and his deputies.

Their concerns prompted the Speaker, Alban Bagbin, to suspend the debate temporarily. A tape recording captures the discontent of the minority members regarding the absence of the finance minister and his deputies.

The debate eventually resumed after one of the deputies, Abena Osei Asare, arrived in the chamber.