Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, a ranking Member on the Finance Committee of Parliament, has advised the Majority side in parliament to remain calm following their walk out in parliament on Friday November 26, 2021 over their resistance to the Speaker’s ruling affirming the rejection of the 2022 budget statement and economic policy.
According to him, the only way the country can achieve its goals is for the Majority to be level-headed and engage the Minority on the way forward in getting a new budget approved.
Dr. Ato Forson indicated that it will be prudent for the majority to accept the views of the Minority to engender collaboration in shaping the economic fortunes of the country.
“Cool heads must prevail. They (NPP Caucus) have to really understand that there’s the need for them to engage and I am urging them as a government that they should live above this politics and understand this is a hung parliament. They should understand that the only way to carry this country forward is to engage. Let’s sit around the table and engage, accept the views of the Minority and tell us what you can do in a form of concession, so we move the country forward”.
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson
On Friday, Parliament voted via a voice vote to reject the 2022 budget statement and economic policy presented by Ken Ofori-Atta on 17th November, 2021. That notwithstanding, Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu revealed that the Speaker’s ruling on the 2022 budget has no far-reaching impact on Parliament, describing it as void. Similarly, the majority leaders served notice of their intention to file processes to reverse the Speaker’s earlier ruling.
Reacting to this, the Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam legislator, Dr. Ato Forson, explained that it will be an expensive mistake on the part of the NPP if they resolve to litigate over the Speaker’s ruling on affirming the rejection of the 2022 budget.
He noted that the negative impact on the economy would be blamed on the government if they fail to immediately address the concerns raised by the Minority.
“If the NPP leaders in Parliament insist that the vote we took is a nullity, they know what to do. They can come with a substantive motion – the rules will apply but the question is would they succeed? Let me say that it is going to be an expensive mistake on the part of the NPP if they decide to go through that route. Because the impact will hit the government and the economy and they would be the ones to carry the burden”.
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson
NDC postpones townhall meeting over budget rejection
Meanwhile, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has postponed its town hall meeting on the 2022 budget, which was slated for Tuesday, November 30, 2021. According to the party, its decision was due to the rejection of the 2022 budget in Parliament on Friday.
“The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has postponed its earlier advertised Town-Hall meeting on the 2022 ‘Awudie Budget’ which was scheduled for 30th November 2021 at Great Hall, KNUST until further notice. This follows the total rejection of the 2022 ‘Killer Budget’ by the gallant NDC Minority in Parliament.”
NDC
The party said it will announce a new date for the town-Hall Meeting in due course.
Contained in a statement, the party expressed gratitude to the “courage and patriotism” that was displayed by the Minority Caucus Leadership. It expressed excitement over all 137 NDC members of Parliament who stood for the people of Ghana and refused to be part of the further imposition of hardships on the already-burdened Ghanaian people.
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