NDC Succeeds At 7 Of 8 Targeted Items In 2023 Budget

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has succeeded in causing modifications to seven out of eight items in the government’s 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy.

The NDC objected to some items in the government’s budget read in November by Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta at a press conference on December 5.

Among the items included some expenditures, allocations and revenue measures.

Out of all the targeteditems, the NDC failed at resisting the 2.5% proposed increase in Value Added Tax (VAT).

In a Facebook post, Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said their efforts to resist the increment in VAT were derailed by their numbers.

“Objectively and sincerely, despite an unwavering determination of the NDC Parliamentary Caucus to achieve all we set out to accomplish in solidarity with suffering Ghanaians, we lost the crucial VAT vote by a narrow 136-135.”

Meanwhile, the opposition party’s legislators succeeded at blocking allocations towards the Accra International Conference Centre Demolition and Redevelopment; new diplomatic missions in 3 countries; the National Cathedral construction; Special Development Initiatives Secretariat & the Monitoring and Evaluation Secretariat at the Office of the President.

It also ensured a cut in allocation to the Contingency Vote; maintenance of the e-Levy threshold; and defeated the tax measure intended to compel drivers particularly commercial drivers to produce tax clearance certificates as a requirement for renewing driver’s licence;

On the VAT, Ablakwa said the Minority is “deeply pained” over the outcome.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini