The Minority has challenged the flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to join the debate on the Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review of the 2024 Budget Statement and Economic Policy on the floor of Parliament.
The Vice President, according to the Caucus, needs to account to the Ghanaian people his seven-year stewardship of the economy as Chairman of the Economic Management Team.
The debate is scheduled for today Thursday, 25th July 2024, at 10 a.m. in the Parliamentary Chamber.
The Minority argue that Parliamentary rules permit a sitting Vice President to engage in debates on the House floor.
This, they said, is the perfect opportunity for the NPP flagbearer to tell Ghanaians in the face what he has done in the past years to make their lives better.
Minority Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim threw the challenge on Wednesday, July 24 in response to a call by the Majority caucus to John Mahama to debate the Vice President.
“This invitation presents Alhaji Bawumia an excellent opportunity and forum to debate and account for his stewardship over the last seven and a half years,” he said.
The Banda MP described the government’s performance as poor and citing World Bank data, said that 33.3% of Ghana’s population has become extremely poor, while about two million Ghanaians face acute food and nutrition insecurity.
He also pointed to a youth unemployment rate of 35%, the highest in the Fourth Republic during the tenure of Dr Bawumia and questioned how the Vice President still dares to call for a debate on the economy with the flagbearer of the NDC.
“He must come for us to debate how to find an antidote to all these. These are what Ghanaians want to hear and the Constitution has given him that opportunity.”
We have lined up a team of highly knowledgeable and competent members to engage Vice President Bawumia on the economic policies that have led to increased poverty and unemployment,” Ahmed Ibrahim said.
The debate is expected to focus on key economic indicators, including unemployment rates and poverty levels, with the Minority presenting a rigorous critique of the government’s economic management strategies and performance over the years.
The Minority Whip called upon the public to support the call for Vice President Bawumia’s participation, urging transparency and accountability in governance.