News:
July 22, 2023
This year’s mid-year budget review has been reverted to its original day of Thursday, July 27, 2023.
It has been moved from Tuesday, July 25, 2023 as leadership of the Majority in presenting the Business Statement on the floor of the House on Friday, July 21, 2023 pointed out that Government will not be seeking additional funds.
Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta would be in the House on Thursday, July 27, 2023 to deliver the 2023 mid-year budget review in parliament.
Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin expressed reservations regarding the timeline but has witnessed a reschedule to the initial date due to another request by the Finance Ministry.
Minority Leader Dr. Ato Forson on his part noted that the mid-year budget review is a matter of law until 2016 it was not compulsory and has become compulsory since 2017 through the introduction of the financial management act.
And added that it is not up to the Minister to pick and choose that it should be in a form of statement, but rather it should be a motion for discussion for it to be adopted even if he is not increasing expenditure or reducing it.
“If the Minister request for five million and it is being reduce to four million its only right the House adopts that and take it as government position. It is not up to the Finance Minister to bring a statement not to debate on the matter”.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanmps.com