The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has criticized the 2025 Budget, describing it as an “Azaa budget,” meaning a deceptive budget.
According to him, the budget offers no hope and fails to provide clear solutions to Ghana’s economic challenges.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament after Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson’s presentation on Tuesday, the Effutu MP expressed disappointment over the lack of a detailed plan for the much-discussed 24-hour economy policy.
“Mr Speaker, we have witnessed what we can best describe as an ‘Azaa budget’. Their much-talked-about 24-hour economy—where is it? The President came here and said it was already in motion. Now, the Finance Minister presents the budget, and there is no mention of it,” he stated.
He also dismissed the government’s economic projections and questioned its recovery strategy.
“This afternoon, we have been presented with part two of the lamentation series. The first was ‘Mahamanomics,’ and now we have ‘Forcinomics,’” Afenyo-Markin said.
“Under the economy they complain about, growth was 5.7 percent, but under their so-called reset economy, growth is projected to decline,” he added.
He emphasized that Ghanaian youth had high expectations for the 24-hour economy policy, hoping it would create jobs and drive economic transformation.
“Mr Speaker, the youth of this country have been waiting for this 24-hour economy policy, yet the Minister tells us it will be brought later. Eii, Ato! So all the jobs they promised were merely an ‘Azaa’ promise?” he quizzed.
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