The Business Committee of Parliament has fixed tomorrow, Thursday, November 24, 2022 to receive the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta to present the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy.
This is in spite of the threats by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) side of the House to boycott the presentation which is in accordance with article 179 of the Constitution.
Strangely, the presentation also coincides with Ghana’s first match at the 2022 World Cup underway in Qatar. It is unclear, what accounted for this coincidence.
The 98 NPP Members of Parliament (MPs) had indicated they would boycott the budget presentation, if Mr Ofori-Atta is still in charge of the Finance Ministry.
But the NPP MPs, appear not alone in this endeavor, as the Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) member who have filed a censure motion against Mr Ofori-Atta, to oust him, are also likely to abandon the Chamber, making it impossible for him to have the constitutional quorum required to proceed with the budget presentation.
“We’ve gone back to (our demand for the President to) sack him now and therefore should the budget be presented under the stamp of the Finance Minister, we’ll not participate because as far as we’re concerned we’re never going to do business with him,” said Asante Akim North MP and spokesperson for the disenchanted Majority MPs, Andy Appiah-Kubi.
“And if we’re not going to do business with him, he does not participate in any process from the Presidency to the House. We will not participate in deliberations too,” the NPP MP said.
The Business Committee has also accordingly scheduled to commence the debate on the budget on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, as the Committee looks forward to a lively, well-researched and informed debate on the Economic Policy of the Government for the year 2023.
In order to afford as many members as possible the opportunity to participate in the debate, the Committee has allotted time to various individuals and committees.
Chairman of the Committee, Osei Keyi-Mensah-Bonsu, submitted that, the Seconder and Ranking Member of Finance Committee will take 20 minutes each, Committee Chairpersons and Ranking Members will have 15 minutes and all other members will have 10 minutes respectfully.
The Business Committee further proposed that the debate for each day be structured along specific sectors.
They are governance, including security and public safety, finance and the economy generally, energy and other infrastructural sectors, the social sector, local governance as well as youth, sports, tourism and the cultural sectors. The above recommendation is to ensure coherence, comprehensiveness and logical flow of the debate.
Accordingly, the Business Committee proposes various sectors for each day to debate the budget:
Tuesday, 29th November 2022: Finance, Agriculture, Trade, and Industry Communications, Energy, Roads, Works and Wednesday, 30 November 2022: Housing, Sanitation, and Environment, Education, Health, Employment, Youth.
On Thursday, 1st December 2022: Sports, Tourism, Culture, and Chieftaincy while on Monday, 5th December 2022: Governance (including Local Government, Judiciary, Defense, Interior, EC, NCCE, CHRAJ and Tuesday 5th December 2022 is reserved for the leaders of the House.
Speaking in an interview on JoyNews’ PM Express on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, Andy Appiah-Kubi had said the only way the President will get them to participate in the budget presentation and appropriation is if someone else from government is appointed to present the budget.
“We’re not saying we won’t do the President’s business. We’re saying we won’t do the President’s business through Ofori-Atta. So if anybody else comes with the President’s business, we’ll participate,” he explained.
JoyNews has also reported the NDC side will join their Majority colleagues to stage the walkout if their vote of censure fails.
A constitutional quorum then arises, making it impossible for him to proceed with the presentation.
“The President had the option to either sack him or per the censorship motion or otherwise but the key question is, if he fails to sack him, Parliament can also fail to recognise him,” he said.
