Budget Is Cut & Paste – Says Minority

Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu and Seth Terkper

They described the budget presented by Finance and Economic Planning Minister, Seth E. Terkper as a recycled material that had been lifted from previous budgets that highlighted the provision of offices for MPs, free exercise books and school uniform for pupils in basic schools and elimination of schools under trees.

'There is nothing new that is inspiring in this year's budget, it is empty, it is hopeless, it is just old materials taken from the previous budgets,' Deputy Minority Leader, Dominic Nitiwul told DAILY GUIDE.

However, their counterparts from the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) disagreed with the negative description, insisting the budget statement is comprehensive and inspiring for Ghanaians and the overall development of the country.

Earlier, in seconding a motion for adjournment of the House, Minority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu labeled the 2013 Budget as 'a journey of nowhere budget', adding 'it would be interesting debating this budget.'

He urged the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning to ensure the presentation of the budget estimates for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on time for the debate on them to commence in earnest.

This was after Majority Leader, Dr. Benjamin Kunbuor moved the motion for adjournment.

He commended MPs from both sides of the House for displaying high level of candour and decorum towards the Finance and Economic Planning Minister.

The Minority indicated that it was not going to be part of any transient activity by President Mahama that would terminate if the Supreme Court invalidates the 2012 presidential election.

According to the Minority caucus, it was participating in the presentation of the budget because government agencies would continue to operate with or without President Mahama and would need budgets to carry out their mandates.

This year's budget presentation lasted for about one hour 40 minutes without the usual funfair and nomenclature that characterized such occasions in the past, as members from both sides of the House uncharacteristically declined heckling and display of fliers with oxymora inscriptions like 'Wahala Azaar, and Better Ghana'  Budget on the floor of the House.

It was on the theme: Sustaining Confidence in the Future of the Ghanaian Economy'.

Speaking to DAILY GUIDE immediately after the presentation by the Finance Minister Terkper, the Minority spokesperson on Finance, Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei observed that the budget statement and economic policy lacked specific details on how the targets outlined would be achieved.

Dr. Akoto Osei, MP for Old Tafo and a former minister of state at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, pointed out that the government indicated that it was going to reduce the current budget deficit of 12.1 percent to 9.1 percent without clearly stating the procedures to attain the target.

Available statistics indicate that the ruling NDC had over spent in the last four years, increasing the fiscal deficit of GHC2 billion (6.6 % of GDP) which it inherited from the previous NPP administration in 200, to a gargantuan and unprecedented deficit of GHC8.7 billion (12.1 % of GDP).

'The Minister of Finance was only hedging, I did not hear any specific details from his presentation and I will like to see the full budget statement  on how government was going to reduce the deficit  before I make comments on it,'  the former minister of state stated.

But Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, NDC MP for Ellembelle and Minister for Energy and Petroleum described the budget statement as a 'forward looking' one that would transform the Ghanaian economy and promote accelerated growth.

According to him, the budget had outlined how government was going to increase its revenue generation internally, facilitate job creation by promoting the private sector, strengthen the utility providers and ensure transparent and accountable governance.

 By Awudu Mahama