Finance Minister, Ken Ofori- Atta has announced some modifications made to the 2022 budget following concerns raised by a section of the public.
Ken Ofori Atta says he has officially written to the Speaker of Parliament with details of modifications in response to emerging concerns by all stakeholders including the Minority.
Parliament on Friday, November 26, 2021, rejected the 2022 budget after members of the Majority Caucus staged a walkout following disagreements over a vote on a last-minute request from Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta to meet leadership of the house on the policy document.
Even though the Majority caucus has asked Ghanaians to disregard the said rejection of the budget, the Minority insisted that the document had been thrown out and there was nothing the Majority side could do about it.
In a statement issued on Sunday, November 28, 2021, the Minority asked government to abandon the proposed electronic transaction levy and Agyapa royalties deal in its revised budget.
The Minority also asked government to provide solutions to the ravaging tidal waves in Keta in the Volta Region and also review the benchmark values on imported products.
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Responding to the concerns raised by the Minority Caucus and stakeholders in Accra, the Finance Minister said, he has officially written to the speaker of Parliament with details of modifications in response to emerging concerns by all stakeholders including the Minority.
With regards to Agyapa Royalties Ltd,Mr. Ofori Atta said, government shall amend paragraphs 442 and 443 to take out references to mineral royalties collateralisation.
He indicated that, it is important to note that, any reference to Agyapa was for informational purposes, and as such was not reflected in the fiscal framework.
Touching on the unfortunate tidal waves which rendered about 3,000 people homeless in Keta, the Finance Minister said government shall make the necessary budgetary allocations of at least GHS10 million to complete the Feasibility and Engineering studies for the coastal communities adversely affected.
He said, government will broaden the scope of the study to consider a more comprehensive solution to protect Ghana’s 540 Km coastline, including the 149 Km between Aflao and Prampram. Meanwhile, NADMO has responded to the humanitarian crisis created by the tidal waves on the Keta coastline.
On the Aker Energy transaction, He said “we shall amend paragraph 829 of the 2022 Budget on the acquisition of a stake from Aker Energy and AGM Petroleum by GNPC, to reflect the resolution of Parliament dated 6th July, 2021 that “the terms and conditions of the loan for the acquisition of the shares shall be brought to Parliament for consideration pursuant to Article 181 of the Constitution.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com Vincent Kwofie.
