We will continue to reject tax measures and other budgetary proposals for 2023 – Minority

The minority in parliament claims it has not changed its mind about rejecting various revenue mobilization initiatives included in the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy.

Cassiel Ato Forson, the ranking member of finance, stated in a briefing to journalists on Wednesday in parliament that “yesterday’s approval of the Budget principles does not constitute approval of the Budget.

So, the budget has not yet been approved for the records.

The government’s economic plans and 2023 budget were approved by parliament on Tuesday.

However, this approval is for the fundamental principles and policies that served as the foundation for the budget that finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta delivered two weeks ago.

With the clearance, the estimates for ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) may now be sent to the various committees for review.

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 he brought the discussion on the 2023 budget to a close by warning that such a move would not be supported by the NDC MPs.

After the Budget Principles were approved on Tuesday, the minority has been under fire for letting the government to push through an austerity budget that would make Ghanaians’ suffering much worse.

However, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson hinted that there is still an opportunity for the minority to thwart the tax measures that it had identified in the 2023 Budget during the budget approval process.

“We can assure you that the Budget process is not yet complete. Our position is that the Bills that will come to Finance Committee and obviously to parliament will go through proper scrutiny. Then the estmates that needs to be approved we’ll aslo look at it and where possible exert our authority on those ones as well,”

In regards to the Debt Restructuring, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson stated that despite the government’s attempts to circumvent parliament in the implementation of the Debt program, it will insist that this be presented to parliament for review.

He asserted, “We should have a voice in approving this so-called debt exchange program since we are the People’s Representative and not anybody else”.

Source: Ghanatodayonline.com