Members of Parliament of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) have resolved to be present when the Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta presents the 2023 Budget after a meeting with the party’s council of elders and the leadership.
The Majority Caucus in Parliament wants President Nana Akufo-Addo to sack Ofori-Atta over the current economic turmoil, hoping that will “restore confidence” in the system.
After a crunch meeting over the issue on Tuesday, the Majority Caucus has agreed to put aside all their grievances and make it a point to attend, participate and approve the 2023 budget statement and economic policy of government, the party’s general secretary Justin Koduah Frimpong and the Majority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh said in a statement.
“The meeting agreed that the President will act upon the initial request of the NPP Parliamentary Caucus” after the budget had been approved and conclusion of negotiations with the IMF for a US$3 billion bailout support.
The budget is scheduled to be read on Thursday 24 November 2022.
Below is the full statement:
Suicide mission
Meanwhile, a former chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Dr Mark Assibey Yeboah has stated it will be “suicidal” to remove Ofori-Atta from office “at this crucial hour.”
He, has, therefore appealed to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament (MPs) demanding his removal and have indicated their readiness not to support the 2023 Budget hearing, debate, approval of the estimates and the passage of the Appropriations Bill to reconsider their posture.
He said time was of essence since the rules surrounding the budget is clear that it ought to be presented to Parliament on or before 15 November every year.
