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Finance minister to present budget statement tomorrow

Barring any last minute changes, the Minister of Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, will present the budget statement and economic policy of government for the year 2023 to parliament tomorrow. 

The Majority Chief Whip and MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, who communicated this to the plenary last Friday when he presented the business statement for this week urged members to report for the constitutional exercise.

According to a Mr Annoh-Dompreh, the debate on the budget is scheduled to commence on Tuesday, November 29, 2022. 

“The Business Committee looks forward to a lively, well researched and informed debate on the economic policy of the government for the year 2023,” he said.

On the structure of the debate, Mr Annoh-Dompreh said the Business Committee had proposed that the debate focused on sector specific areas to give clarity to the debate.

The areas of the debate, he said would include  security and public safety, finance and the economy generally, energy and other infrastructural sectors, the social sector, local governance as well as youth, sports, tourism and culture.

“The recommendation is to ensure coherence, comprehensiveness and logical flow of the debate,” he stated.

The presentation of the budget comes at a time the minister is facing opposition to his continuous stay in office both from the governing New Patriotic Party and National Democratic Congress caucuses in Parliament. 

In a historic revolt, some 80 Majority caucus members on October 25, called on Mr Ofori-Atta to resign or be shown the exit by the president. 

Even before their call would be given consideration, the Minority caucus filed a censure motion to force the Minister from office on seven grounds including incompetence, illegal withdrawal from the consolidated fund and deliberate and dishonest misreporting of economic data to Parliament amongst others.

Having put up a strong defence to his stewardship before the eight-member Adhoc  Committee constituted to probe the allegations, the Committee report is likely to be moved today for a vote on the minister.

Though the Majority members disagree with the route the Minority has taken to get the minister out, they in principle agree that Mr Ofori-Atta must go. 

They have gone ahead to threaten that they would boycott the budget presentation if Mr Ofori-Atta were to present it.

“If he is not there, can’t others present the budget? No one is indispensable. 

“We have lost confidence in him because in the 2022 Budget, he promised that with an E-levy and Property Rate, there will be no need to go to the IMF for support. As we speak now, that has not happened, and the property rate is even yet to take off

“We are not convinced that it should be Ken Ofori-Atta and nobody else,” Andy Appiah-Kubi, spokesperson for the defiant NPP lawmakers said on Accra based Oman Fm. 

BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI 

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