By Emmanuel Oti Acheampong
The Member of Parliament for the Ajumako- Enyan Esiam Constituency and Ranking member on Finance of the Parliament of Ghana, Cassiel Ato Forson, has described the 2023 Budget as one that is full of grammar and lacks numbers.
The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta, on November 24, 2022 presented before the Parliament of Ghana, the 2023 budget and economic policy as demanded by the Constitution. The budget which he dubbed the “ Nkabom” which literally means Unity Budget is poised to resurrect and give life to the ailing Ghanaian economy. Among some of the policies to give life to the economy is the review of the popular E-levy from 1.5% to 1.0% and the increase of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty, LEAP grant from the average of GHC 41.75 per household to GHC95.19 monthly.
Addressing Journalists after the Budget Presentation, the Ranking Member on Finance, Ato Forson stated that though the Budget is poised to recover debts, it lacked the numbers and was full of grammar
Besides, the New Patriotic Party, NPP thought the Finance Minister, had nothing to offer Ghanaians.
“What he gave us today, is nothing but grammar. He has informed us clearly that Ghanaian economy is indeed in an Intensive Care Unit”, he stated.
According to Dr. Ato Forson, the Finance Minister failed to provide the House with the Budget Statement which contained the appendices where the numbers which can aid in critical analysis of the government’s economic policies.
