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The government’s economic plans and budget for 2023 have been approved by parliament.
However, this approval is for the guiding principles and policies that served as the foundation for the budget that finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta delivered two weeks ago.
Minority leader Haruna Iddrisu again urged the government to reverse its plan to raise the VAT rate by 2.5 percent and eliminate the E-levy threshold as she brought the discussion on the 2023 budget to a close by warning that such a move would not be supported by the NDC MPs.
The Minority Leader stated that “Mr. Speaker without going further we in the NDC minority group will fiercely resist and fight the imposition of this additional tax on Ghanaians and Ghanaian businesses because Mr. Speaker it will only exacerbate and increase the hardship they’re already going through, it will increase the cost of doing business for many Ghanaians and it will make it difficult for ordinary Ghanaians to cope,”.
“About 25% of questions that are asked in this Chamber relate to Roads. Some roads have begun and the intention is to ensure that they don’t deteriorate, they’re not left unattended to, so the 2.5% increase in VAT we have been told primarily is going to be used for road construction. If you don’t want your roads to be constructed tell us that you don’t want your roads to be constructed,” Hon Iddrisu stated.
The majority leader asserted that, in spite of the current economic uncertainty, the NPP is a much better steward of the economy.
“The evidence is clear,” he stated, “that the NPP has proven to be better managers of this economy despite the unprecedented shocks both internal and foreign.”
After failing to correctly predict the direction of the voice votes, the speaker then asked if the motion should be adopted, which caused a little amount of controversy.
However, Alban Bagbin decided to vote YES after hearing mutterings from the Minority side and asking the question a second time.
Speaker: “The House has accordingly approved the Government’s Budget Statement and Economic Policy for the year ending December 31, 2023.”
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
