Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Asawase Constituency, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak, has disclosed that Members of Parliament in his side will be present at the presentation of the 2023 budget and fiscal policy today.
This decision by the caucus is contrary to an earlier decision to boycott the budget presentation by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
The caucus has expressed their displeasure in how Mr. Ofori-Atta has managed the Ghanaian economy and has even filed a censure motion for his removal and hence was not expected to be present for presentation of the budget.
However, the Minority Chief Whip noted that the purpose of rescinding their initial decision is to hold government accountable.
“We [Minority] will be there, and we will be observing what they [Majority] will be doing. But presently we have our position. We need to hold them accountable. We have a budget that is supposed to protect the integrity of the country. It is going to be read on behalf of the President.”
Muntaka Mubarak, Minority Chief Whip
Meanwhile, the Majority caucus will also be in Parliament today for the budget presentation.
This follows after the National Leadership and Council of Elders of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) managed to convince some ninety-eight NPP MPs to stand down on their threat to boycott the budget presentation if Ofori-Atta appears before Parliament to present it.
Minority Chief Whip, Alhaji Muntaka, said that his side will monitor with keen interest the actions of the ninety-eight NPP MPs who want Mr. Ofori-Atta out of office.
The 2023 budget and fiscal policy comes at a time when government is trying to secure a deal from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for economic support.
The Finance Ministry has said the 2023 Budget will focus on Government’s strategies to restore and stabilize the macroeconomy, build resilience, and promote inclusive growth and value creation.
The Ministry also said the budget will feature updates on Ghana’s engagement with the IMF for an IMF-supported Programme; year-to-date macro-fiscal performance of the economy; the YouStart initiative under the Ghana CARES Programme; climate action strategies; fiscal measures and debt management strategies to ensure fiscal and debt sustainability and promote growth.
Minority To Resist Draconian Policies
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs have said that they will reject any policy in the 2023 budget they feel is draconian.
In a statement from the Minority in Parliament, the caucus assured Ghanaians that it will protect the national purse on their behalf.
“We [Minority] wish to assure the Ghanaian people that we stand with them in these difficult times, and we will not relent in our efforts to hold the managers of the economy to account.”
Minority’s statement
The Minority MPs emphasised the need to cut down “non-essential government expenditures and more prudent use of scarce national resources” in the 2023 budget.
The NDC MPs added that, they “have also demanded greater transparency and accountability in public financial management,” and are expectant that, that will be done moving forward.
The Minority also said that it had made some other proposals to government and hopefully, their proposals will “find expression in the budget and signal a change in course by the failed Akufo-Addo/Bawumia Government.”
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