Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, a member of parliament for North Tongu, has pleaded with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to join the Minority in opposing the 2023 Budget.
He claims that the budget as presented to Parliament by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta foretells catastrophe for the Ghanaian people and presents a very ominous and horrific image.
Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa reacted to the budget presentation on Thursday, November 24, saying it does not address the agony, misery, and suffering of the Ghanaian people and that it will instead make the current dire situation worse.
Petroleum Costs
A review of petroleum goods was not addressed, which disappointed the North Tongu legislator.
He questioned why Ghana’s diesel and gasoline prices were higher than those of Togo, Benin, and the Ivory Coast in the subregion.
According to him, this circumstance has made it unhealthily easy for people to carry fuel across borders in order to survive.
Why can’t we reconsider the taxation on fuel items, he questioned? When you do that, the cost of transportation and food will decrease, which will lead to a certain decrease in the cost of other goods and services.
In addition, Mr. Ablakwa criticized the 2.5% increase in VAT at a time when inflation is above 40% and Ghanaians are suffering to make ends meet, particularly under President Akufo-Addo, who opposed VAT and organized a protest that resulted in fatalities.
Spending Reductions
The lawmaker claimed that the government’s restriction on hampers and diaries is a very weak attempt to reduce spending.
He argued that the amount that the ban will save is not significant in comparison to some expensive items, such as the numerous unnecessary secretariats at the presidency.
When the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health are available to serve this function, he questioned why the President still maintains a COVID-19 secretariat, which in 2021 spent more than GH12.6 million on simply salaries, supplies, and services.
We have been informed that the Special Development Initiative (SDI) Ministry has collapsed, therefore why do you build a Special Development Initiative (SDI) secretariat at the presidency?
The budget for goods and services as well as pay and benefits has grown dramatically, from less than a million cedis to GH358 million, according to the 2021 Auditor-report. General’s Therefore, they are the major expenses.
Okudzeto Ablakwa also criticized the government’s prohibition on V8 car use in the capital as absurd and contended that it would have been more effective to reduce the cost of the President’s travels on the €20,000 per hour chartered jets.
He asserted that the President should have directly and concretely banned the use of chartered jets and claimed the government is purposefully avoiding the important concerns.
He questioned, “Why are they frightened to lower the number of bureaucracies,” and said that cutting the size of government may result in a significant reduction in spending.
He asserted that the President should have directly and concretely banned the use of chartered jets and claimed the government is purposefully avoiding the important concerns.
He questioned, “Why are they frightened to lower the number of bureaucracies,” and said that cutting the size of government may result in a significant reduction in spending.
The Middle and Coastal Development Authorities are required? When there are MMDAs and regional coordinating councils, what purpose do all of those serve?
The district assemblies common fund is currently six quarters behind schedule. Therefore, you are eliminating the district assemblies while also establishing new bureaucracy.
Because they are not comprehensive and deep and won’t have a significant impact, he said, “I am not impressed with the efforts to cut expenditure.”
Source: newsthemegh.com