A former Finance Minister, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor has asked members of Parliament to prioritise the needs of their constituents amid the uncertainty over the approval or otherwise of the 2022 budget statement and economic policy.

Commenting on the contentious matters that have caused the stalemate over the status of the fiscal policy, Dr. Duffuor indicated that "in the midst of the impasse over the 2022 budget, what parliamentarians must remember is the people they represent."

His comments are in reaction to the chaotic scenes that characterised parliamentary proceedings on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 over the approval of the budget.

Members of the Majority and Minority groups engaged in dramatic displays that nearly led to fisticuffs as they took entrenched positions to defend their respective interests.

In a twitter post on Thursday, December 2, the former Bank of Ghana (BoG) Governor highlighted that the well-being and standard of living of the ordinary citizen should inform the actions of the lawmakers.

In the midst of the impasse over the 2022 Budget, what Parliamentarians must remember is the people they represent. The Budget must reflect the needs and sensitivities of the Ghanaian people. Anything else would be a betrayal of duty.

— Dr. Kwabena Duffuor (@DrDuffuor) December 2, 2021

According to him, the budget should make life bearable for the populace.

"The budget must reflect the needs and sensitivities of the Ghanaian people. Anything else would be a betrayal of duty," he opined.

On Wednesday, the House became divided after the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu threw out a motion by the Minority who were seeking to have the approval of the fiscal policy rescinded.

The agitated NDC MPs started shouting unprintable words at the Deputy Speaker. But their counterparts across the aisle retaliated.

The Speaker was forced to suspend the sitting for an hour. During the break, Ghanaians witnessed a tussle between the two sides.

A similar incident took place on January 7, 2021 prior to the election of the Speaker of Parliament.

Meanwhile, a 20-member mediation team comprising members from both sides of the House has been formed to bring finality to the matter.