By Bubu Klinogo
MPs have begun debating the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy presented by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori- Atta.
In presenting the Statement, the Minister moved the motion for the House to approve the Economic Policies of the Government for the year ending 31st December 2022. Among the many things contained in the Budget is the abolition of Road Tolls, scrapping of Benchmark Values for some 40 products, introduction of Electronic Transaction E – Levy and the Youth Start initiative.
Day One of the debate focused on Finance and Economy, Environment and Climate Change, Youth and Sports, and Foreign Affairs.
MPs from both sides were divided on partisan lines, while the MPs from the Majority side hailed the Budget.
The Majority described it as the Game Changer, while the Minority said, it is regressive, unrealistic and unacceptable for which reason it should be rejected.
Here are some of the soundbites from the floor of Parliament.
”Every Friday when we come to the chambers we fill questions, the majority of them coming from my colleague, from the other side and a good number of those questions have to do with infrastructure”.
”The Foreign Policy of the President is that any time disasters of this nature happen in other jurisdictions he’s among the first World Leaders to comment,to emphasize, to condemn”.
” Mr. Speaker, my Chairman has already admitted to the fact that we have had every noble district by diplomats in the year 2021. He made mention of the President of the straight com UC”,
as the MPs debated on the floor of the House.
The MP for Obuasi and Chairman of the Finance Committee, Kweku Kwarteng started the debate by supporting the Motion For the Approval of the Budget.
”Even now that the Budget has been presented to us, we are ……against change. And so Mr. Speaker, those who have suggested that we are announcing to reject this Budget clearly are telling us what is out of place and I urge this house to approve this Budget and give this House the opportunity to consider the elements within the Budget”, he noted.
Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Bryan Akyeampong kicked against moves to get the National Security Minister to disclose how much the State spends on Presidential Travels.
Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee and MP for North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwa had filed a question seeking to know how much it cost the nation when the President visited some three countries using a Private Jet.
But, debating the Budget, Mr. Akyeampong said the National Security Minister must not give out such information.
Explaining, in an interview, Mr. Akyeampong said such information must be classified and kept as a top secret.
”’National Security matters, what it cost to protect you ,what it cost to put the 4000 Police people on the street to protect you, what it cost to put the Military to protect you to watch the sovereignty of the State,what it cost to put the Immigration people, at our borders , what it cost to secure you and the President”, according to the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Bryan Akyeampong, are all ”Top Secret”.
