Parliament has rejected the 2022 budget which was presented by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta last week Wednesday.
Even though the Majority were not present to participate in the exercise, the Speaker said their absence could not prevent the House from proceeding with the business of the day.
Since the presentation of the budget by Ken Ofori-Atta, the Minority have vowed to oppose it, saying that its approval will impose hardship on Ghanaians.
Among other policies in the budget, the government has proposed to scrap the collection of road tolls. The budget also proposed the introduction of an e-levy.
Tamale Central MP, Murtala Mohammed, had argued that approving the budget is equivalent to sending Ghanaians to their graves. He explained that the 2022 budget is full of “inconsistencies and half-truths”.
“The only people whose funeral was not announced were the people who live in the Flagstaff House,” Mr Murtala Mohammed said.
According to Bolgatanga Central MP, Isaac Adongo, the levy being suggested is unproductive, regressive and will lead to the collapse of most businesses. “No matter how you call that thing, it’s a monster. It’s a killer tax. The tax will change the phase of the entire business community,” he said.
He, thus, entreated his colleague Ministers and MPs to join him in voting against the passing of the levy.
Contributing to the debate, Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, said the introduction of the electronic transaction levy (e-levy) is not the best way for government to generate revenue because it is retrogressive and lacks clarity.
Meanwhile, in an interview with JoyNews, NPP MP for Adansi-Asokwa, K.T. Hammond said, ” Read my lips, Parliament has not constitutionally rejected our budget.”