‘How many Ghanaians sleep at 6pm?’ Agalga defends evening Budget presentation

Majority Leader James Agalga has dismissed concerns by the Minority over the 6:00 p.m. presentation of the 2027 Budget, insisting that Ghanaians will be wide awake to follow the Finance Minister’s address.

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, Mr Agalga said the government did not intend to present the budget at a time when the public would be asleep.

“We are not intent on presenting a budget statement when the people of this country are asleep. That is not what we are intending to do,” he said.

His comments followed criticism by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who questioned why Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson had chosen to present the budget in the evening.

Mr Agalga challenged the Minority’s suggestion that the timing would leave Ghanaians too tired to follow the presentation.

“But how many Ghanaians go to sleep at 6:00 p.m? With the greatest of respect, how many Ghanaians? Honourable Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, do you sleep at 6:00 p.m? No. Ghanaians will be wide awake to listen to the presentation of the new economy,” he said.

He added that the public would be interested in the government’s plans to create jobs, particularly for young people.

“They are eager to know how government would create jobs for the teeming youth of our country. So nobody would sleep. They’ll be wide awake to listen to the good news that we have for the good people of this country,” he said.

Mr Agalga also explained that the evening schedule was influenced by an important state function planned for Thursday, November 12.

He said the government would launch new currency notes on the same day, an event at which the Finance Minister was expected to be present.

“Tomorrow there is an important state function. We are launching new currency notes. And we all know that the Finance Minister plays a critical role so far as the finances of our country are concerned. And therefore would be in attendance when the notes are being launched,” he said.

He added that the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, and the Minority Leader had also been invited to the launch.

Dr Cassiel Ato Forson is scheduled to present the 2027 Budget to Parliament on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.

Speaker Alban Bagbin announced on Tuesday that he had granted the Finance Minister’s request for an evening presentation, citing “good reasons”.