The Majority caucus in Parliament have backed down on their decision to boycott the 2023 Budget presentation in Parliament as threatened earlier.
The decision comes after the caucus met with the Council of Elders and executives of the New Patriotic Party Tuesday, November 22, 2022.
They have decided to let Ken Ofori-Atta present the budget and conclude with the IMF negotiations as defended by President Akufo-Addo when the 98 MPs earlier made a case for the minister to be sacked.
Many have held that the President wants his cousin to complete the IMF deal to cash in his 9% commission by acting as financial advisiors to the state through his bank, Databank.
If Ghana gets $2 billion from the Fund, Ken Ofori-Atta will get $180million.
The communiqué released after the meeting is detailed below:
RESOLUTION OF IMPASSE IN THE NPP PARLIAMENTARY GROUP
Over the past two weeks, especially, after the President had engaged the Majority Caucus over calls for the ouster of the Minister of Finance as well as the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and a statement on the engagement had been issued, the country has witnessed a heightened public/media discussion on same subject matter.
There have been occasional individual interventions some of which have not helped the resolution of the issue in contention.
On the other hand, some of these interventions have contributed to escalate tensions and suspicions.
At a meeting this evening, the 22nd of November 2022, involving the Majority Caucus, the Leadership of the Party and the Council of Elders, it has been agreed by all to refocus and recline to the earlier position requested by the President, to wit:
The demand be stood down until the conclusion of the round of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which would feed into the 2023 Budget;
The presentation of the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy on the 24th November 2022 by the Finance Minister on behalf of the President; and
The subsequent presentation and passage of the Appropriation Bill.
The meeting agreed that the President would act upon the initial request of the NPP Parliamentary Caucus after the conclusion of these matters.
In the meantime, the Leadership of the Parliamentary group and the Leadership of the Party counselled the Honourable Members of the Parliamentary Party to resort to the Caucus communication channels and, to the largest extent possible, work together as one Caucus unit.
Leadership and the Party in this regard call upon the Members of Parliament to attend to all Government Businesses in the House including, in particular, the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy and all connected matters.
HON. ANNOH-DOMPREH, (MP)
MAJORITY CHIEF WHIP
PARLIAMENT OF GHANA
JUSTIN KODUA FRIMPONG
GENERAL SECRETARY NEW PATRIOTIC
PARTY
Source: Onuaonline.com|Ghana
