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Minority leader Dr Ato Forson has said the late Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur has been vindicated when he said a time will come for the current vice president to answer his own 170 questions; “the time is now”.

This follows Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as running mate setting one hundred and seventy questions to the then Vice President, Late Amissah Arthur to answer when the country was facing some economic challenges at the time.

“Alhaji Bawumia I besiege you in the name of Allah the most precious, please answer the one hundred and seventy questions. This insensitive, cruel and out of reach and bye bye budget would inflict more pains and hardship on the ordinary Ghanaian and businesses as if the suffocating taxes is not enough this government has introduced a number of tax handles”.

At a press conference immediately the finance minister finished with the presentation of the budget and the House adjourned, the Minority Leader addressing the media, noted that the vice president said to be arresting the Ghana cedis.

Dr Ato Forson mocked the Vice President who claimed at a point to have arrested the dollar and kept the key with the IGP. But the dollar has broken jail and is now on the run faster than Usain Bolt. “The late vice president was right when he said a time will come for the current vice president to answer his own 170 questions the time is now”.

“The vice president as head of the economic management team does not understanding what is going on in the economy; he is out of reach and does not understand what is happening and what the ordinary Ghanaian is going through.

And the NPP government has pushed the ordinary Ghanaian into extreme poverty and this is as a result of what the Catholic Bishops Conference has describe as the massive corruption under President Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr Bawumia”, the Minority Leader stated.

According to him, the NPP promised to move the economy from taxation to production but rather we see a reverse gear over taxation without production.

And today the finance minister has taxed our brothers and sisters from Abossey Okai, Kokompe and Suame Magazine and mechanic shops across the country are at their backs. Unfortunately he failed to announce policies that would reduce the suffering of the ordinary Ghanaian.

And the way they have introduced taxes, they have it in the budget if you are not careful you would not see it; they have introduced taxes worth eleven billion Ghana cedis. They are re introducing an environmental duty exercise to cover plastic product and packaging.

Again industrial emission tax, called emission levy and increase the stamp duty.

The legacy of the vice president and the finance minister is there for us to see; a bankrupt economy. All the finance minister knows to do is to over borrow to benefit his businesses and his friends. He would be remembered for destroying Ghanaian businesses that has to do with his rivals.

“He has brought our economy on its knees, he has forced pensioners to their early graves, he gave crude and painful haircuts, and pushed eighty-five percent of Ghanaians into extreme poverty within two years. This government cannot be trusted, the NPP has messed up Ghanaians big time, we need to know this, we the previous government gave them a number of inheritance, they had three active oil producing fields and they inherited energy sector levies.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Minority Leader Dr. Atto Forson said the 2024 budget presented by the Finance Minister on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 is the last goodbye budget of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) present by the sector Minister, Ken Ofori Atta to Ghanaians.

According to him the budget is insensitive and out of touch saying “Mr. Minister, you and members of the economic management team led by the Vice President, you are leaving behind a bankrupt economy; this government is leaving behind a default economy, in other words we would not pay economy.”

“Mr. Speaker this government is leaving behind a budget that is debt riddled and over tax, hyperinflation, and high monetary rate. As if that is not enough, you are leaving a high lending rate economy, high unemployment rate”.

He further added that the government is leaving behind a miserable index that has never been witnessed in this country. “According to the Catholic Bishop Conference, you are leaving behind an economy that has witnessed massive corruption”, he stated

The Minority Leader also noted that the legacy they are leaving behind is “today you are here reading the budget alone, “where is the Vice President and the Governor of the Bank of Ghana?” Let me say they cannot abandon you, you did it with them, and they are also faces of destruction. Bye bye this is your score card”, he said.

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Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu Ekuful said if her Ministry gets the needed funds from the 2024 budget by the end of January 2024, by the end of July 2024 rural telephone would be completed.
With that, the current government can then be held accountable by tracking implementation of the budget.

According to her she is hearing some noises being made about no network, not vote, “so I am saying that give us the money by January ending, June and July2024 we would give you the network and you also give us the votes to break the eight”.

Another thing is the rural telephony project as we all know because of the external debt restructuring China Exim which was funding our rural telephony project has suspended disbursement but we do need to complete that project and government has taken it upon itself for us to complete it. This would enable some four million Ghanaians to be connected around the country. You cannot take part in the digital revolution when you do not have connectivity; it’s basic.

Again, am also happy that the digital village I spoke about just yesterday has found space in the budget; we are going to find funding to build this facilities at the university of Ghana to enable our young people get practical hands on training in ICT and cutting on technology so that they can have innovation for the contemporary challenges that we face.

So for that digital infrastructure to be put in place for the underserve and not served areas to be connected is a relief for me so that once I get the funds released to the contractors June next year all the site that we plan next year, all the plans we want to activate next year would be up and running.

Also girls in ICT found space in the budget and I am happy about it because we need to narrow the gender digital divide.

Addressing the media just after the Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta presented the budget; she noted that for her one key thing is the removal of taxes on sanitary pad something we have been pushing for a long time.

“I am happy that something that this government inherited its taking steps to remove it to bring relief to our young adolescent people”.

I know there was some tax relief expectation we need to recognise that if you do not borrow and do not pay your taxes to finance your own development, your development would stall. It is incumbent on us to contribute to the development of our country through paying these taxes and hold the government accountable by letting it know we have done our part. And it is your turn to deliver the projects you promise in your budget that you would undertake if you have the funding you indicated.”

She said it is not enough to make noise and shout; let us take concrete projects and ask the needed questions. You said you would do this, the funds have been given, where are you with it so that when we go to the polls you promise A have you delivered and as the media you can pin point them.”

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The Member of Parliament for Dormaa East Paul Twum Barimah is confident the 2024 budget will be a stability and development budget based on signals he picked from a member of the Majority side and believes something good would come from the Finance Minister.

According to him there would be cutdown on so many sectors and taxes would be taken off some items like agriculture inputs.

And the issue of climate change would be given attention in the budget particularly vehicles that generate emissions would be taxed and congestion as well.

In an interview he further pointed out that politicizing issues about the economy from both majority political parties, the NDC and NPP that have been at the helm of affairs of the Country is not helping; cited the E-Levy as a typical example.

“When we move away from the politics we would get things right we should start it now, when we consider that we are Ghanaians and act fairly. And when we act we do it in our interest, we would achieve results; and when we talk of corruption ninety percent it’s the civil servants”.

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Ahead of the presentation of the 2024 budget statement, Member of Parliament for Tamale South Haruna Iddrisu said the Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta does not have any option than to embark on a difficult mission of expenditure cut.

According to him there would be no growth acceleration or growth being fast trucked, rather a huge expenditure cut as government would try to make debt sustainable.

Again, the biggest news from the finance minister would have been he telling Ghanaians he had reached an agreement with external creditors in other that he would be able to save some ten point five billion dollars out of the twenty nine billion US dollars external debt that will give him some fiscal space; “he is likely to say I am near conclusion with external creditors.”

And to bring a closure to the matter China and the Paris Club’s issues need to be addressed as the IMF sees that as a requirement we need the six hundred million dollars badly before the end of November other than that the cedi would crash; “but he would not be able to say he has achieved agreement with creditors.”

Again there is the need for fiscal discipline and we have to work toward fiscal consolidation and Ghanaians should look for answers as to how to deal with the depreciation of the cedi. We need to work to export and work to preserve foreign exchange in the country, he added.

“We need to arrest the depreciation of the cedi if not the Ghanaian economy would not see any growth; there would be lack of fiscal space.”

Touching on the Central Bank, he opined that there has been a breach of the Act; saying ”many of you did not appreciate it, today you are making it a major issue; when it came to printing of money, we have to find ways to deal with it, how do we work to save the economy, he stated.

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The Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram has described the expected budget of 2024 to be presented by the Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 as International Monetary Fund austerity budget.

According to him the finance minister is only coming to read what the IMF has written for him as he has no control over the budget hence there is not substance in the budget.

“We should expect that they would tell government to cut down on expenditure; government would have to cut down on road, hospitals that we need; do not expect the government to cut down on their travel expenditure”.

He further pointed out that government will cut down what benefits the public; they would not cut down on what benefits the president and his appointees.

So we should not expect them to function properly, stating that in 2022 a whole Ministry of Information goods and services got less than a million cedis out of ten million that was approved by parliament for them; it’s a budget of austerity, he emphasised.

“This one it is not only nurses who are suffering, doctors are also suffering students, nursing trainees free SHS is suffering, everything that this government has promised is suffering, even the second lady’s hand bag is suffering”, he mocked.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Former Minister for Energy under the John Mahama administration Emmauel Kofi Armah Buah has taken a swipe at the ruling New Patriotic Party government as the energy minister Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh announced government has signed two new power purchase agreements (PPA) to shore up the country’s power generation by 720 megawatts.

According to him the agreement with AKSA Energy Company Limited for a 370 megawatts (MW) thermal plant in Tema and another 350MW thermal plant in Kumasi is part of the government’s strategy to stabilise and enhance power reliability across the country and encourage power exports.

The Deputy Minority Leader at a media engagement with members of the parliamentary press corps noted that this is a clear vindication and a confirmation of a wise decision by the NDC led by former President John Dramani Mahama.

“It, clearly shows he was a visionary and the decision he made when Ghana found itself in dumsor was a wise decision. The reason why Ghana went into dumsor was the eight years that NPP was in power they failed to properly plan by adding power additions on annual bases”.

This country’s economy was increasing so you can see on annual basis there was the need for two hundred megawatts, NPP for eight years failed to address that so by the time NDC came to power this deficit among other things the drying up of the Akosombo dam then we had to be in crises, he said.

Again, it took us a lot to do, so president Mahama decided that we have to address this problem and we took a systematic step to increase the power generation capacity and increasing it. We took steps by bringing Ghana to the gas era by establishing the Atuabu plant. ENI was to address that but as soon as NPP took over instead of thanking President Mahama for the last seven years all they have done is to paint a picture of a government that was reckless in adding more power.

He stated that the NPP said PPA was over subscribed that is the reason why we are in debt. Today, NPP says we need to increase the power capacity; the Energy Minister announced seven hundred and twenty megawatt PPA have been signed. “Have they just gotten up from their slumber. Why is it that all of sudden they have woken up from their slumber? It’s important we understand we take decisions in the national interest”.

According to him, A country like ours needs power as we are calling for industrialisation, but NPP was throwing slogans about big industries, “where are you going to get the power? In the last seven years they cannot point to one power addition, now they are panicking to have power additions.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Minister for Trade and Industry K. T. Hammond has noted that cabinet has taken a clear decision for the La General Hospital which was demolished because the structure was weak to be reconstructed.

He made this remarks in an interview with members of the Parliamentary Press Corps on Friday, November 10, 2023, as business was on going on the floor of the House.

He was compelled to speak to the issue following agitations from some youth in the a La area who are up in arms demanding that the La General Hospital should be reconstructed.

According to him nurses, doctors and patients were not comfortable with the poor condition of the structure.

In addition, he noted that there have been some issues with the financing so the matter has protracted. “You might have heard about agenda 111”, hence the president and his cabinet have taken a very clear decision on this that it was going to be reconstructed in its original design after it was demolished. The contractor made another design from India, it has been agreed that that design is what is going to be put up in the same place. They started yesterday”, he said.

According to him, the finance minister is committed to raising money for the structure to be put up in its original design, adding that it would be as beautiful as it was.

He said government came to the floor and parliament approved some loans but there were difficulties and the loan did not come in time that is why the project has delayed. “Finally a new financing arrangement has been put in place.”

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa South Samuel Atta Akyea ahead of the ruling New Patriotic Party’s flag bearer election on Saturday, November 4, 2023 said any of the presidential aspirant who loses and leaves the party is not a good candidate.

According to him there are rules of engagement and no one can come and deceive the party, go into an election and break away to give semblance of disunity in the party.

In an interview with members of the Parliamentary Press Corps just after adjournment, he point that that if you sign an undertaking not to leave the party after the contest it adds up to one’s integrity.

“You think you can just go and do anything just as you like in this world if you do not want to come under laws and rules you are a lawless person, people should fear you”.

As to what message he has for the delegates ahead of the Saturday’s election, he pointed out “this is not the first time such an exercise is being undertaken in the NPP. It has been done before, the current President Nana Akufo-Addo went through it, same with Professor Adu Boahen and they all displayed maturity.”

Again, if the system says this is the one we should endorse, that is the end of the matter. It is upon you to team up with the winner to generate the result the common enemy in the NDC not ourselves. If you do not understand what we are about doing, then you do not love your party.

In addition the big fight in 2024 is not an individual matter; it is a whole party matter, the one who wins becomes the next president of Ghana.

On the issue of the Majority whip saying ninety-five percent of the lawmakers are supporting Dr. Bawumia, he noted that, it’s the truth and a huge statement because the endorsement is overwhelming. These are not ordinary people and not everybody is under any governmental control.

When they say that someone is being remote control, that is not the reflection on the ground, rather it is what the ground is saying. The same thing that he is one who should be the flag bearer that should minister to everybody that this man is very strong and has the support of those of us at the grassroot that is all you need as leader; and a leader is the one who has the support of all the serious people at the background.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Mavis Nkansah Boadu has assured Members of Parliament that no Ghanaian has been caught up in the impasse between Israel and Hamas that has let to deaths in the Gaza strip according to Ghana’s mission in Tel Aviv.

According to her in the early hours of Saturday, 7th October, 2023, Hamas launched a multi-faceted brazen dawn assault on Israel from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel and areas north of Tel Aviv by air, land, and sea killing at least 1,400 Israelis including 289 soldiers and some foreign nationals, leaving over 4,010 wounded and dozens kidnapped into the Gaza Strip in a statement on the floor of the House.

As of now, the issue of evacuation of our nationals from Israel has not been raised and in addition, the Ghana Mission is in close contact with the leaders of the Ghanaian community and is providing the Ministry with updates on their welfare and will provide the general public with updates pertaining to the welfare of the Ghanaian community in Israel.

In a Press Release on 8th October, 2023, the Government of Ghana unreservedly expressed its condemnation of Hamas’ actions and reiterated Israel’s right to exist and defend itself.

The statement further called on Hamas to withdraw its militants from southern Israel and urged the Government of Israel to exercise restraint in its response to Hamas’ attacks. The African Union on its part issued a Communiqué in which, the Chairperson called on both parties to put an end to the hostilities and return to the negotiation table to implement the principle of the Two-State solution.

Again, Ghana has always advocated for a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the Middle East conflict therefore, supports all international efforts geared at finding a just, peaceful, and lasting solution that will guarantee the right of the State of Israel to exist within secure and universally recognized boundaries, as well as the Palestinian people’s legitimate right to self-determination and the establishment of a Palestinian State.

Ghana believes that the proposed Two-State solution based on negotiations and dialogue is the most viable option within the global efforts at bringing about a durable peace to the ordinary people of Israel and Palestine.

The Israeli Government has expressed displeasure with regards to Brazil’s Resolution that was tabled before the United Nations Security Council on 18th October, 2023, and a subsequent resolution tabled at the United Nations General Assembly.

Concerns raised by the Israeli Government indicate that although the Brazil’s Resolution condemned Hamas’ attacks and called for the release of the abductees, it did notrecognise Israel’s right to self-defence. Israel has accordingly asked for the designation of Hamas as a terrorist organisation, a public denunciation of Hamas, and public declaration of Israel’s right to self-defence.

As of 27th October, 2023 through negotiations mediated by Qatar, four (4) out of about 224 hostages have been released by Hamas so far. Efforts to resolve the conflict are being undertaken by the European Union, the United Nations, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Arab League who are calling for the cessation of hostilities by the two parties.

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has provoked divided support and opinion over the past few weeks, with countries in the Middle East and North Africa showing solidarity with Palestine while most Western countries have also shown support to Israel. At least 44 countries including France, Germany, the Netherlands, the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, have condemned the attack by Hamas and declared its tactics as terrorism. On the other hand, regional players such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Syria and Iraq have pinned responsibility on Israel. Additionally, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt have called for the cessation of hostilities by both parties.

The UN Security Council, of which Ghana is currently a member, is scrambling for answers in the wake of the crisis. The paralysis in the Council is not unexpected considering the political sensitivities that have traditionally characterised the Council’s handling of the Palestine question. Attempts to adopt a unified position on the unprecedented attacks in Israel and Gaza have proven futile, with several resolutions tabled by Russia, Brazil, the United States and the United Arab Emirates (on behalf of the Arab Group) unable to achieve consensus.

Some of the resolutions have lacked the balance needed to garner the support of all sides. Ghana voted in favour of a resolution which condemned violence and hostilities against civilians and called for “humanitarian pauses” to allow for full, safe and unhindered access for aid agencies to deliver humanitarian assistance to civilian populations.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com