The Minority group in Parliament has given a firm assurance it will be in Parliament today Thursday 24th November, 2022 for the presentation of the 2023 Budget statement.
According to the side, participating in the budget presentation will be without prejudice to the ongoing Committee hearing on the Motion of Censure brought against the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
It, however, warned it will resist any effort to impose additional hardships on Ghanaians through draconian and deleterious fiscal policies in the budget.
A statement issued by the Minority leader on the eve of the 2023 budget presentation accused Mr. Ofori-Atta together with other government appointees of being responsible for the collapse of the Ghanaian economy and the attended hardships.
Hon. Iddrisu noted that while his side remains committed to seeing through the process to censure the Finance Minister, it is mindful of its duty to carry out oversight on the executive and preserve the interest of the Ghanaian people whose livelihoods the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration has severely undermined through mismanagement of the economy.
He said, “We are also mindful of the timelines regarding the IMF negotiations and the crucial role a timely presentation of the 2023 Budget will play in the advancement of these talks aimed at securing a program to bring the ailing economy back on track.”
“We however wish to make it clear that we will resist any effort to impose additional hardships on Ghanaians through draconian and deleterious fiscal policies in the Budget.”
According to him, the opposition NDC has, on many occasions offered clear alternative pathways to resuscitating the economy and has highlighted the need for drastic cuts in non-essential government expenditures and more prudent use of scarce national resources.
The opposition, he said, has also demanded greater transparency and accountability in public financial management.
He expressed hope the NDC’s alternative proposals will find expression in the budget and signal a change in course by the failed Akufo-Addo Bawumia government.
Mr. Haruna Iddrisu assured the Ghanaian people the NDC Minority in Parliament stands with them in these difficult times and will not relent in its efforts to hold the managers of the economy to account and added that the flip-flop of NPP MPs amounts to a betrayal of the public trust.