Minority tasks gov’t to immediately present a revised budget

The Minority in Parliament has charged government to immediately present a revised Budget that addresses the generality of the concerns of the Ghanaian people.

The NPP government, it said, should do what is proper and critically take on board the views of the Minority and sentiments of the Ghanaian populace and bring a Budget that is acceptable and address issues of the general public.

A statement by Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu, warned that cutting down the unprecedented looting of public funds and the display of lavish lifestyles by the ruling party is the only solution to the current crises.

According to him, until there is value for money no additional taxes should be proposed on the already suffering masses of Ghanaians.

He said, “The NPP Government should rather concentrate on bringing a revised Budget that will, among others, address the following:

Suspend the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy); The Government should suspend the E-Levy and properly engaged stakeholders to agree on a reasonable policy. How can mobile money payments, bank transfers, merchant payments, and inward remittances be charged 1.75 percent? The policy is not retrogressive, not pro-poor and does not support the much-touted digitalisation agenda and cash-lite economy that we all yearn for.

Withdrawal of Agyapa; The NDC Minority will not support any collateralisation of our revenues particularly mineral resources. The future of our country will be bleak if we continue in that regard. We cannot jeopardise the future generations of our country just for our present desires.

Provide for Tidal Waves Disaster; The Government should incorporate in its revised Budget adequate measures to address the issue relating to the Tidal Waves Disaster in Keta and other communities. The victims should be supported. And the Phase II of the Blekusu Coastal Protection Project must find space in the Budget.

Properly re-construct the wording relating to the Aker Energy; and Relating to GNPC acquisition of stake from Aker Energy and AGM Petroleum, the revised Budget should reconstruct paragraph 829 of the rejected Budget to reflect the decision of the House as captured in 6th August, 2021Votes and Proceedings of Parliament.

Review the Benchmark Value for Imports; Government should, in a revised Budget, reconsider paragraph 247 of the rejected Budget which sought to restore the Benchmark Values of imports by suspending the 50 percent discount on selected General Goods and the 30 percent discount on vehicles. Some concession should be given to the importers.”

He charged government to accept defeat, acknowledge the rejection of the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy by Parliament and focus on discussions on how to save the country from an imminent economic crisis.

“Parliament has duly rejected the 2022 Budget and until and unless the Government removes the draconian taxes and revises what is contained in the rejected budget, the NDC Members of Parliament remain unable to support such policies,” he added.

The NPP Majority leadership, he said, should appreciate this is a new Parliament; a hung Parliament and stressed that those days of the Majority bullying the Minority because of their “excess” numbers are over.

He cautioned that the nature and character of this new Parliament with its near equal- numbers (137+137) calls for broader and thorough consultation to secure the best national interest for the good of the Ghanaian people.

Source: Mypublisher24.com