Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin indicated in Parliament today that the 2023 budget will be read on the 24th of November, 2023 instead of 15th November, which was the initial scheduled date.
The Effutu MP mentioned that as per the provision of the constitution, the Finance Minister will appear before the house to present the budget.
“Bearing any unforeseen development, the Minister responsible for Finance on the authority of the President of the Republic, is scheduled to present the budget statement for the year ending 31st December 2023 in accordance to Article 179 on the 1992 Constitution on Thursday the 24th of November 2022.”
Afenyo-Markin, Dep. Majority Leader
He urged all Members of Parliament to take note of the date and ensure they are present in the house on the said date.
Afenyo-Markin added that after the budget is read, there will be a workshop for MPs at the Volta region where they will be made to understand the budget very well.
“As per our practice, Members are to have an understanding of the budget in order to make meaningful contributions. Accordingly, there is supposed to be a post-budget workshop scheduled for Friday, 25th November to Monday, 28th November at the Volta Serene Hotel -Ho, in the Volta region.”
Afenyo Markin, Deputy Majority Leader
The MP for Trobu and Deputy Minister for fisheries and aquaculture, Moses Anim, however asked that the workshop be held in Accra, at the Chamber of Parliament to cut down on Parliament’s expenditure.
He argued that amidst the numerous calls for government to cut down on its expenditure, it was necessary to hold the workshop in the Chamber, so Parliament is seen as “advancing the calls of cutting down of expenditure.”
MPs May Boycott Parliament on Budget Reading Day
MPs in the majority caucus have indicated that they are unwilling to conduct any business with Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.
Although the majority MPs have held on with their calls for his removal, yesterday, they claimed that some happenings necessitated that they revert to some of their initial demands.
One of which is the demand that Ken Ofori-Atta refrains from presenting the 2023 budget and appropriating it.
“We are back to the original position that we took, and that position is that the Finance Minister must not be the one to read the budget, and must not be the one to do the appropriation.”
Nana Ayew Afriyie, MP
This means that, there is a high possibility that most MPs on the majority side will boycott Parliamentary proceedings on the day of the presentation of the budget if Ken Ofori-Atta is the one who appears before the house to do so.
Moreover, since the minority side has also filed a censure motion for his removal, there is uncertainty as to whether they will be present in the house on the day of the presentation of the budget or not.
Whatever the case may be, it is quite certain that, the Finance Minister will not receive the best of receptions in Parliament if he appears before the house to present the budget on November 24, 2022.
Probably, government will accede to the demand of the MPs who are asking that someone else presents the budget.
Well, not too long ago, on the 12th of March, 2022, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu presented government’s budget to the house on behalf of Ken Ofori-Atta who had travelled to the USA for medical check-up.
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