The Minority in Parliament has raised red flags over the mid-year budget review presented by Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta on the floor of Parliament on Monday.
Former Deputy Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for Ajumako Enyan Essiam, Cassiel Ato Forson has described the mid-year budget review as "asem bone" (bad news) budget.
To him, the budget review has exposed the Akufo-Addo government, spelling doom for the economy.
Debating the Finance Minister’s statement, Mr. Forson said: “From the information that we have heard today, from the document that we have just been given, I rise to say that unfortunately the budget is being revised from ‘Asempa’ budget to ‘Asem bone’ budget. I say this because this is bad news for this country. You will notice that non-tax revenues as projected, the programme was that from Q1 to Q2 the outturn will be 2.7 billion, Mr. Speaker the out turn is now 2.1 billion, this is a cut. Clearly what this means is that there is a shortfall of almost GHS600million.”
Responding to Mr. Forson's assertions on the budget review, Deputy Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has cautioned the Minority to desist from bastardizing figures to score political points.
Speaking in an interview with host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah noted that the figures presented in the budget review were not manufactured but attained from the Ghana Statistical Service and the Central Bank.
According to him, if Hon. Ato Forson claims the budget is bad news then he means to discredit the Statistical Service and the Central Bank which have been working hard.
Also addressing the issue on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', NDC Deputy Communications Director, Fred Agbenyo has asked the government not to massage the figures.
He highlighted several challenges facing Ghanaians and believed the Akufo-Addo led government has no clue to develop the nation.
He was of a strong view the government is throwing dust in the eyes of the citizenry.
To Fred Agbenyo, if the NPP wants to prove their worth, the government should begin to set up developmental projects like the previous government did and then they will compare the cost of the projects.
“Construct the roads and give us the opportunity to scrutinize the cost of the project. Construct some of the bridges. Set up some of the schools. Establish some of the hospitals and when you finish, we will also ask about the cost,” he said.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
Yes, it will happen and you will get the chance to compare. Create loot and share!!
For the information of this boy, we have saved over one billion cedis by negotiating gas contracts the ndc got Ghana into. "Stealers"
Let Ghana have the Woyome money and the loot from the 'Ameri' Deal and you will see REAL DEVELOPMENT
WHEN WILL THESE NDC BOYS LEARN? ARE THE INFLATIONS STATIC? FRED AGBONYO, COME AGAIN
***barred word*** ARE REFUSING TO THINK ABOUT PRESENT ISSUES.
something like $10 billion STX housing that produce o housing and VP residence $14 million and still not completed.three level hospital costing $306 million while Kenya is building African tall building at the cost of $200 million and airport runways $28 million and $100 million.common tables and chairs costs million of dollars.of course we will compare and exposed spectators and thie.ves.