The Finance Minister’s amendments to the controversial 2022 Budget Statement and Government Economic Policy were tabled in Parliament today, Tuesday, December 7.
At a press conference, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta said that he had written a letter to the Speaker of Parliament about changes to the financial statement.
Among other things, the government evaluated the Aker Energy agreement, the Agyapa deal, and a $10 million commitment for Feasibility and Engineering studies for coastal areas impacted by tidal waves, including Keta and its environs.
In terms of the E-levy, Mr. Ofori-Atta said that the planned costs would stay at 1.75 percent, however, the Minority and other stakeholders are still being consulted.
The document was received by First Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei Owusu, who asked the Clerk of Parliament to place it before the Parliament for discussion.
Haruna Iddrisu, Minority Leader, protested to the Clerk laying the document.
He believes that the Finance Minister or his deputies should give the document to Parliament as a symbol of ownership rather than an officer of the House.
Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Deputy Majority Leader, disagreed. He feels that the statement should be accepted as a functioning document after it has been validated and signed by the Finance Minister.
The Minority Leader recognized some contact with the administration in his early remarks on the budget amendments.
He said, “We on this side [Minority in Parliament] are unable to support the government in its quest to impose an E-levy at 1.75% on Momo and associated transactions including remittances and bank transactions. Therefore we stand opposed, and at every level that E-levy is being introduced, we will stand united to oppose it because it will inflict hardships on the core poor of the Ghanaian people.”
Mr Afenyo-Markin, on the other hand, said the Finance Minister should be applauded for embracing the Minority’s recommendations in its amendments to the 2022 Budget.
He also informed the Minority that the Finance Minister has not given up on their worries about the E-levy and that he would continue to work with them to reach common ground on the charges.
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SOURCE: myjoyonline
