Ghana’s Parliament rejects Akufo-Addo’s 2022 budget statement

Ghana’s Parliament has rejected the “Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2022 Financial Year”.

3news.com report “Majority members of the house staged a walkout during proceedings on Friday, November 26 but that did not stop the Speaker, Alban Bagbin, from ruling on the motion”.

“He had given a five-minute break for the Majority members to resume their seats”.

“But after the time elapsed, Mr Bagbin ruled that the budget has been rejected after the members present overwhelmingly shouted ‘No,” 3news.com said.

1979 Parliament rejected Limann’s budget

The development brings to two the number of times the country’s budget statement has been rejected by Parliament.

The first was in 1979 when the country’s 3^rd Republican Parliament rejected the statement presented by the then Dr Hila Limann’s People’s National Party (PNP) led administration.

The statement presented by the Finance Minister at the time, Dr. Amon Nikoi was rejected by the house despite the PNP’s majority numbers in the house.

Report sighted by GhanaPlus.com said the motion for the rejection was moved by the opposition Ranking Member of Finance named Jones Ofori-Atta.

It was subsequently, seconded by the PNP’s Parliamentary Spokesperson on Finance, Dr. G.K Agama.

Dr Amon Nikoi was compelled to resign from the position thereafter.

Finance Minister present Agenkwa budget

The Minister of Finance, Mr Ken Ofori Atta  in accordance with Article 179 of the 1992 constitution of Ghana on Wednesday, November 17, presented ‘The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2022 Financial Year” to Parliament for consideration.

The budget tagged “Agenkwa Budget”  announced the abolishment of tolls on all public roads in the country, a 1.75 percent charge on all electronic transactions above ₵100 and ‘YouStart’ a 1million jobs creation initiative with a seed capital of ₵1billion.

It also announced a review of benchmark values, reduction of withholding tax on sale of unprocessed gold, review of the VAT Flat Rate System (VFRS), reduction in power tariff and a two-year tax relief for textile manufacturers among many others.

Since the presentation, a section of the Ghanaian public including members of the Minority Caucus have mounted stiff opposition against it, especially, against a proposed E-Levy which seeks to impose 1.75 % tax on mobile money transactions above ₵100.

The Minority Caucus and the National Democratic Congress(NDC) has described it as a killer budget.

Political activist and former National Chairman of the Peoples National Convention (PNC), Mr Bernard Mornah some days ago called for its rejection by  house.

That he said was because it does not present hope to the suffering of Ghanaians.

Source: GhanaPlus.com