A leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Otchere Darko, has said Ghanaians must focus on how the 2022 budget statement is going to ease the hardships.
He said in a series of tweets reacting to the approval of the 2022 by Parliament without the Minority that “There’s really nothing to be particularly excited about either Friday’s unlawful rejection or Tuesday’s passing of the budget.
“What’s relevant is how this budget may seek to tackle the economic issues like unemployment which confront the nation. How will it ease hardships?”
Another tweet said “Law is powerful. If you understand it and use it well it can resolve issues.”
He added “No, Minority Leader, the Deputy Speaker today did not vote. He was only counted as present in the House in his capacity as MP for Bekwai and he did not vote and needn’t vote because once half of members are present only the majority of that number needed to vote ‘aye!’.”
Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament have rejected the assurance by the Finance Ken Ofori-Atta that their concerns in the 2022 budget would be addressed at the committee level.
Their leader Haruna Iddrisu said at a press conference in Parliament on Tuesday November 30 that they wanted their concerns captured in the original budget statement, not to be discussed at the committees’ sittings.
“If you are acknowledging and admitting that there were concessions, let it reflect in the statement” and not a meeting at the committee level, he said.
He further stated that the Minority will oppose to the E-levy proposal in its current any day and anytime.
“We don’t support the E-levy in its current. Our point is to revise it to take care of the ordinary people.”
The Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta had assured them that all the issues they raised against the 2022 Budget, would be addressed at the committee level.
The Minority had raised issues including the request that the budget for Parliament should be raised from GHS510m to GHs1.7bn, issues about the e-levy and others.
Mr Ofori Atta said in Parliament on Tuesday November 30 that their concerns would be considered.
His comments came just before Parliament approved the 2022budget statement on Tuesday November 30.
The First Deputy Speaker who sat in for the Speaker said on Tuesday, Joseph Osei Owusu said that “The House has adopted the Financial statement and approved the budget statement for the ensuing year ending 31st December 2021.”
“This house has approved the budget and economic statement,” he stressed.
The Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu had asked him to set aside the purported rejection of the 2022 budget statement.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said on the floor of the House on Tuesday November 30 that the rejection of the budget “did not meet the test established under Article 104,” because Parliament did not have the required numbers to be present in the chamber for purposes of taking decisions.
The minority boycotted the sitting.
By Laud Nartey|3news.com|Ghana