Majority members missing in Parliament ahead of 2022 budget approval

Report reaching GhanaPlus.com has said Members of the Majority Caucus in Parliament are nowhere to be found in House today ahead of the proceedings to approve the 2022 budget.

Report said the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin have subsequently suspended sitting since the majority group were not in the chambers as at the time of his arrival.

It is unclear why the majority are not present at Parliament.

Parliament to approve 2022 budget today

Parliament had set today(Friday) November 26, to finalize discussions on the 2022 budget presented by the Minister of Finance,Mr Ken Ofori-Atta for consideration for the 2022 fiscal year.

It was also to take a definite decision on the budget, that is to approve or not.

The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2022 Financial Year was presented in accordance with Article 179 of the 1992 constitution of Ghana on Wednesday, November 17.

Tagged the “Agenkwa Budget”, it announced among other things 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.

We will not support 2022 budget – Minority in Parliament

However, the Minority group in Parliament made up of National Democratic Congress(NDC) Members of Parliament have expressed their dissatisfaction about the budget and vowed to vote against it.

The have registered their displeasure most especially, with the E-levy, of which a 1.75% momo tax have been slapped on all mobile money transactions exceeding ₵100, and applicable on senders only.

NPP refuse to defend their own budget

A twitter post of the Member of Parliament for the North Dayi Constituency, Mr Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor sighted by GhanaPlus.com said New Patriotic Party has refused to show up to defend their own budget.

“ The Npp has refused to come out to Defend their own Budget. It’s 1:45pm & yet the Govt is nowhere to be found in the Chamber even though we’ve been here since 9am. Speaker just ‘suspended proceedings’ of the House to abuse their coming. This Nebuchadnezzar budget must fail”

The Npp has refused to come out to Defend their own Budget.

It’s 1:45pm & yet the Govt is no where to be found in the Chamber even though we’ve been here since 9am.

Speaker just ‘suspended proceedings’ of the House to abuse their coming.

This Nebuchadnezzar budget must fail pic.twitter.com/nnoicVs7uh

— Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, Esq. MP. (@etsedafeamekpor) November 26, 2021