According to Cassiel Ato Forson, the ranking member of the financing committee, the approval of the budget is a process that begins with a discussion of its guiding principles in Parliament.
He claims that the Minority has focused on a few topics that it considers to be incorrect and will not support their approval.
He cited the 23 tax measures, including the 2.5% VAT, that the government is asking Parliament to accept.
This is not the moment to raise the VAT, he declared, as inflation has taxed various goods and services to the point where their costs have occasionally doubled and in some cases tripled.
“As a result, we are requesting that the government maintain that approach until there is stability in the future. In both the Committee and the full meeting, we will vote against it.
Following a response from Ghanaians after Parliament adopted the 2023 budget by voice vote on Tuesday, December 6, Mr. Ato Forson was outlining the Minority’s position. The Minority came under fire from some members of the public for passing the budget that they had sworn to oppose.
According to the ranking, the minority group would also oppose removing the GH 100 e-levy barrier because, at the time, the administration said it was a measure to exempt the most vulnerable members of society.
He stated that lowering the threshold would only make things worse for Ghanaians, which is why the minority would vote against it. Since the value of the GH100 has decreased since then due to depreciation, he claimed.
He added that the side will reject the creation of the GH1.4 billion Contingency Vote because it is improper and that they will address it at the Committee.
He remarked, “Even if we are Christians, I do not believe this is the time to use public monies to build a Cathedral at this moment because we have also emphasized that the country is in trouble.”
In fact, the National Cathedral is a mistaken priority, according to the president of the Catholic Bishop Conference. The cost of the cathedral’s construction must also be cut because we are currently unable to support it.
He declared that the Minority will likewise reject the debt-restructuring plan as provided by the finance minister, and he said that despite the government’s efforts to do so without consulting Parliament, the side will insist that it be brought before the House.
The Minority, according to Hon. Ato Forson, has identified a number of budgetary provisions that it would oppose. He added that this opposition will be expressed both in committee meetings and in the plenary during the discussion of the reports.
Source: newsthemegh.com