Minority Leader Slams Ghana's Mid-Year Budget As Disappointing, Says Economy Is On Autopilot
- The minority leader, Cassiel Ato Forson, has described Ghana and its economy as being on autopilot during a sitting of parliament
- His statement followed the presentation of the 2024 mid-year budget review on Tuesday, July 23, by the Finance Minister Dr Amin Adam
- Ato Forson said government's failure to announce tax cuts and new policies to boost the economy had rendered the budget uninspiring
Cassiel Ato Forson, the minority leader in parliament, has boldly stated that Ghana and its economy are on 'autopilot'.
His comment followed the presentation of the 2024 mid-year budget review in parliament on Tuesday, July 23, by Finance Minister, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam.
Amin Anta had assured Ghanaians in his presentation that the government was committed to keeping expenditure within the country’s means.
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He explained that the government’s focus was to ensure fiscal discipline to prevent overspending, especially as the country approaches the December elections.
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Reacting to the government’s fiscal document for the rest of the year, however, Ato Forson commented that it was utterly disappointing and uninspiring.
He stated that the biggest headache affecting Ghanaian people and businesses were the many taxes being imposed by the government.
The minority leader said he had expected the government to reduce or remove some of these taxes to help suffering Ghanaians, but the minister had failed to do so.
Ato Forson further expressed concerns that the minister had failed to introduce new policies or ideas to improve living conditions in the country.
Minority leader says Ghana is on autopilot
According to Ato Forson, the country and its economy are on autopilot, with the ruling government seemingly out of ideas.
“Mr Speaker, unfortunately, Ghana is on autopilot. Our economy is on autopilot,” he said during the sitting of parliament.
The minority leader said he expected the country’s economic situation to worsen due to government failing to implement a clear roadmap to rescuing the ailing economy.
In conclusion, he noted that many companies were already 'fleeing' the country due to the high rates, anticipating that more would follow before the year ended.
Government to reintroduce road tolls in 2025
Meanwhile, the finance minister announced that cabinet had approved the establishment of the framework for reintroducing road and bridge tolls in 2025.
He said the return of these tolls were part of a broader strategy to improve road infrastructure funding and management in the country.
Earlier, the works and housing minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, had also affirmed the cabinet’s approval of reintroducing these road tolls.
He said the approval followed calls from the ruling New Patriotic Party’s flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and the roads minister, Francis Asenso Boakye.
Oppong Nkrumah explained that while the tolls would not be introduced immediately, the finance minister would provide a road map for their reintroduction.
Minority protest delays budget reading
YEN.com.gh also reported that a protest from the minority caucus delayed the 2024 mid-year budget review presentation.
The minority MPs in parliament had protested the delay in releasing their District Assemblies Common Fund money.
The caucus members expressed their discontent over the delay in the disbursement, saying it affected their duties.
Proofread by Bruce Douglas, senior copy editor at YEN.com.gh
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Source: YEN.com.gh
