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The government has been urged to send the country’s debt restructuring document to the House for review, according to minority leader Haruna Iddrisu.
On Tuesday, Mr. Haruna said on the floor of Parliament, “Even the Debt Exchange, they must bring something and lay it here for the people of Ghana, the Minister of Finance, cannot just walk away as if everything in this country is determined by him”.
“If you are doing haircuts and you are changing contents of agreements, whether domestic or external, they are Contract Al; and this Contract Al comes with obligations, he must come and lay a paper in this House on how he intends to work on the external debts, because when this House approve those agreements, we approved them consistent with Article 181 terms and conditions, you can’t vary the terms and conditions at your pleasure or as it pleases a certain Minister for Finance.”
He stated that in order for the House to review and approve the Finance Minister’s ability to move forward with the Debt Exchange Program, those agreements must be presented.
The Minority Leader said, “The information I have is frightening, Mr. Speaker; even the Debt Exchange program is virtually being boycotted. Let him (the finance minister) come and notify this House, how many people have signed into it, to rescue our country and preserve the economy.
Speaking on the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Estimates, Mr. Haruna asked the Majority Chief Whip in Parliament to ensure that the House had work to do, stating that the exercise of oversight and parliamentary scrutiny of the budget remained the House’s primary role.
“To come, every now and be told that reports are not ready, is not acceptable.
“So, get your committee chairs and the clerks. Clerks that have completed their works must bring their reports for us to consider and approve the estimates”.
“I further warned that Ministers who want their Budgets approved must appear in person, if you delegate your Deputy, we will delegate your money for you some other day after appropriation.
“If they send emissaries to come for approval of budget estimates, we will send their approval to them the day they are available, so Whip, make sure you have your estimates ready” Mr Iddrisu stated.
He urged the sector ministers to go before their respective House committees to argue for the ratification of their budget estimates.
He said that the House needed to start working on budget appropriation and that the practice of dumping large amounts of material on them at once prevented thorough examination.
The majority whip and Nsawam Adoagyiri MP for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Frank Annoh-Dompreh, asked the House to take action by making sure that their task was done well.
In order to complete work at the Committee level on time, he urged the ranking members of the various Committees to collaborate with their Committee Chairs.
Patrick Yaw Boamah, the MP for Okaikwei Central, told the House that the Debt Exchange Program paper will be brought before the Chamber for the necessary member review.
The Second Deputy Speaker, Mr. Amoako Asiamah Andrew, who presided over the proceedings on Tuesday before adjourning, asked members to hasten their work so that the House could reconvene on December 21.
In order to be able to rise for the festivities, he pleaded with the Committee heads to arrange for the presentation of their reports for the Appropriations Bill’s deliberation and approval.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
