Parliament will conclude its discussion on the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy given by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta later today, Friday, November 26, 2021.
Members of Parliament have made contributions to different areas of the economy since Tuesday.
The majority has made arguments in favor of the budget’s objectives, while the minority has characterized the budget’s policies as insensitive.
The introduction of a 1.75 percent surcharge on electronic transactions, the reversal of Benchmark values, and the elimination of road tolls have dominated the budget discussion for 2022.
The Minority has indicated that it intends to push for a vote on the budget statement.
On Wednesday, November 24, 2021, the Minority expressed concern over the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, his two deputies, and the Minister of State at the Presidency in charge of Finance, Charles Adu Boahene, being absent throughout the discussion.
According to Ahmed Ibrahim, Deputy Minority Chief Whip, it is intolerable for the Minister and his deputies to be absent during the budget debate.
According to him, the Minister or one of his deputies must be there to express the lawmakers’ feelings and recommendations about the budget to the President.
“The Minister of Finance moved a motion on behalf of the president. We are debating the motion to make alternative inputs to be sent to the president, who sent him to bring the motion to us… Where is the mover of the motion? This house must not be taken for granted.”
“If the President sends you to bring us the budget statement, it’s necessary we are going to suggest alternative solutions. The Minister for finance must be here, to take notice of all the alternative solutions that are going to be proposed and send it to the president. At least one of them must be here,” he said.
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SOURCE: CITINEWS
