Deputy Minister of Finance, Abena Osei Asare has said the economic crisis in the country could worsen if approval of the 2023 budget is delayed.
Members of Parliament have begun debating on the 2023 budget presented by the finance minister last Thursday.
On the floor of Parliament, the deputy minister urged Members of Parliament, especially the Minority to support the government’s revenue measures provided in the 2023 Budget
The Deputy Minister, also a Member of Parliament for Atiwa East gave the warning while contributing to debate on the 2023 Budget on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, November 29,
She blamed the current economic challenges on external factors and argued it is important the 2023 budget is passed expeditiously to prevent reducing the country from further crisis.
She stated that “We are faced with local and global challenges, we also have an ongoing IMF negotiation, and also we have debt operations that we are trying to come up with to bring our debt levels to a sustainable level.”
“Mr Speaker, little did we know that a global pandemic and a war in Ukraine will bring us down to our knees. The quicker we do something about it, the better.”
“It is in this respect that we are asking our colleagues on the other side to support the government in the revenue measures that we have stated in next year’s budget.”
“Any delay in passing this revenue measure means we are pushing Ghana down the drain,” she added
Meanwhile, during the debate on the first day, November 29, 2022, some members of the majority were not present.
The debate will continue today November 30, 2022, and focus on Communications, Energy, Roads, Works, Housing, Sanitation and Environment while Thursday, December 1, will be on Health, Youth and Sports, Education, Tourism, Culture and Chieftaincy
