The Member of Parliament for Builsa South Dr. Clement Apaak said he was taken aback by government’s decision to begin processes to purchase a bigger jet for use by the President. Dr. Apaak said government’s decision in the moment of austerity to splurge on a new jet is unfortunate.
He said this among many other reasons are the reasons why the Minority has suggested total rejection of the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy as read on the floor of Parliament on November 17, 2021 by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta.
“These are some of the reasons why we have said that we cannot support this budget. Why anyone, in the time of austerity, where the State is proposing to tax every single Ghanaian regardless of social of economic wherewithal will turn around and say that we should be procuring an aircraft for a President who already has access to an aircraft clearly would show the priority of the current government. What is the urgency in procuring a jet for the presidency,” the Legislator quizzed while speaking on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East show.
“Clearly, we cannot support it. In fact, we [the Minority] knew about this and that is why the question was filed so that it is publicly stated for every Ghanaian to know that it is no longer a speculation. It is part of the whooping 3.1 billion GHC assigned to the office of government machinery,” he stressed.
He said the budget for the 2022 fiscal year also made provision for the building of a new Chamber for Parliament, a decision he said was not needed at this time. He said the Minority is strengthened in its position to reject the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy following unanswered questions on government expenditure for this 2021 fiscal year.
It will be recalled that the Minister for Defence, Dominic Nitiwul confirmed government is in the process of acquiring a new Presidential jet. According to the Minister, the move is based on a request by the Ghana Air Force for procurement of a main aircraft for government business.
He was answering questions from North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa who wanted a confirmation of revelation by Director of Communications at the Presidency Eugene Arhin that government is buying a new jet, Mr. Nitiwul disclosed consultations with Parliament, trade unions and religious bodies are ongoing ahead of the purchase of the new Presidential jet.
Meanwhile, the Minority Group in Parliament has reiterated its position to reject in plan and principle the Electronic Transactional Levy (E-levy) proposed in the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy. The Member of Parliament for Builsa South Dr. Clement Apaak said the position of the Minority is non-negotiable and added that it will ‘fight’ for nothing short of a total rejection of the proposed levy.
Speaking on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East, the Legislator explained that while the Minority admits the need for taxes to develop, the government’s request for the already economically burdened Ghanaians to pay more in the form of taxes is unjustified because of the wastage of public funds and revenues it raised in the past year.
Dr. Apaak also said Parliament is still unsure about when it will adjourn sittings for the Christmas break. The situation is as a result of current differences between the Majority and Minority groups in Parliament over the approval of the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy as well as the conduct of the First Deputy Speaker and MP for Bekwai Joseph Osei Owusu in the absence of the Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kinsford Bagbin.
Speaking on the same platform, the Member of Parliament for Builsa South Dr. Clement Apaak explained that the return of the Speaker to Parliament is expected to bring finality to issues raised by the Minority group in Parliament.
A1Radioonline.com|101.1MHz| Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
