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The apparent refusal of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, to present for the 2023 budget discussion has alarmed the minority in parliament.
The Deputy Minority Whip, Ibrahim Ahmed, stated that he needed to be present in the chamber when the Speaker announced the rules for the start of the discussion because he needed to take note of their views.
“Mr Speaker, conspicuously missing on the floor is the mover of the motion and it Is not for nothing that the constitution says the finance minister can lay the budget on the floor on behalf of the president. So, you can’t just move the motion and remain there. It is appropriate that the minister must be here, Mr Speaker if he is not ready to do the job, he should let the house know. He must be here to hear our input.”
This is starting to sound pretty like the finance minister, according to ranking member of the finance committee Ato Forson. Therefore, he encouraged the house not to discuss the budget until the finance minister had taken their suggestions into account.
The majority leader noted that nowhere in the constitution does it indicate that the minister of finance must present the economic policy and the budget statement to this body.
The president may select any minister to present the budget to the parliament, and the minister is not required to address it, according to Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu.
However, he said that the finance minister had already announced that he would be traveling, but he also mentioned that the two deputy ministers would be available to consider recommendations.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
