A noisy protest in Parliament forced the Speaker to call for recess after the Minority refused to allow the Finance Minister to present a statement instead of an expected 2015 budget review.

Joy News’ Parliamentary correspondent Elton John Brobby is reporting that the Speaker of Parliament had ruled in favour of the Majority after its leader, Alban Bagbin asked to vary the order of business.

He says the Majority had decided to allow the Finance Minister Seth Terpker to make a statement instead of moving a motion for the adoption of a review budget.

The sudden change in the agenda displeased the Minority. Despite their arguments, the Speaker Edward Doe Adjaho using Standing Order 72 ruled that the Minister could be allowed to “make an announcement or statement of policy ….based on facts…that does not allow debate”.

Finance minister Seth Terpker

The Minority, feeling robbed of the opportunity to engage the Minister, made “so much noise”, Elton Brobby says.

The Speaker’s warning to walk out any MP deemed disruptive of proceedings did not have its intended effect of deterring the Minority.

This left the Speaker little choice but to call for a recess which has been going on for about thirty minutes.