'Boys abr3, girls kasa budget': Minority faults timing of 2014 budget presentation

Member of Parliament for Atwima Mponua Isaac Kwame Asiamah has expressed concern about the timing of 2014 budget presentation because it coincides with the second leg of the Ghana-Egypt World Cup qualifying match.

Calling the budget "boys abr3, girls kasa dodo budget", he said "the whole nation needs to unite behind the Stars so that we will be successful in our third attempt [at the World Cup]".

The description is coined from a popular hiplife tune that describes the difficulties young people go through in life. The 2014 budget has being tagged this way to dramatise the difficult economic times imposed on Ghanaians by the government, according to the Minority MP.

Issac Asiamah noted that the reading of the budget could divide the attention of the Ghanaians who are keenly looking forward for a victory for the Black Stars.

Meanwhile, Minority Caucus in Parliament will meet Tuesday morning to consider a boycott of the 2014 budget to be presented to the House by the Finance Minister Seth Tekper.

The Minority has accused their Majority counterpart of bad faith after the passage of the amended Value Added Tax bill which saw an increase in the threshold of the tax by 2.5%.

Although the Minority walked out of Parliament when the VAT bill was presented to the House last Friday, it was passed - a development that has severely angered the Minority.

The Minority walked out in protest over the increase in VAT rate. They accused the Executive and the Majority of not consulting them in their bid to increase the VAT rate 

NPP Member of Parliament for Sekondi Paapa Owusu Ankomah told Joy News, although the Minority usually meets at the beginning of every Parliamentary week, a key agenda on Tuesday's meeting would be to consider whether to participate in the budget reading or not.

"I am sure whatever decision is arrived at Ghanaians will know", said Paapa Owusu Ankomah.