The Minority in Parliament has pledged its support to the Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin in his quest to resist President Akufo-Addo’s attempt to slash budget estimates for the legislature and the judiciary.

According to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Caucus, the decision by the Executive will weaken the Legislative arm of government.

President Akufo-Addo through his Executive Secretary Nana Asante Bediatuo announced a ¢77 million slash in the estimate presented by the Judiciary and Judicial Service and over ¢119 million from the estimate of the Legislature.

The presidency cited current economic challenges for the decision.

But the Speaker responded, saying, “The Budget is not for the Executive. We have the final power to approve and so what the Constitution has done is for them to make a recommendation and to negotiate during the deliberation before the House.

“It is not for the Executive to impose views on the Judiciary and Parliament. We have to do the right thing and so during the consideration of the estimates particularly the Committees concerned take that on board.”

“At the end of the day, come and inform us of the negotiated figure, not the ceiling that has been given by the President. That is not the intention of the 1992 Constitution. If you do otherwise, I as your Speaker will not append any letter for submission to the President for his actions…I mean what I am saying, the weakest link in our democracy is Parliament and because of that we are not able to correct things like corruption, hold the nation to account and get the rule of law going,” he said.

Addressing the press in Parliament, Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu insisted that the House must not countenance any attempt to weaken its oversight.

According to him, the Executive cannot have its way and deny other arms of government.

“Those of you who are familiar with the constitution, we share the view that over the years because our Constitution is heavy on an executive presidency, the Executive has had its way with larger proportion and substantial amounts to undertake its activities but the legislature and others are being denied.”