The Minority Leader in Parliament Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has described the 2014 budget as uninspiring and a rehash of unfulfilled promises made in the 2013 budget.
Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the 2014 budget has revealed that government has been deceiving Ghanaians on the percentage of revenue used to pay public sector workers.
The Finance Minister on Tuesday presenting the 2014 budget and financial statement to Parliament announced that the President John Mahama, Vice President Amissah-Arthur and appointees had agreed a voluntary 10 per cent pay cut.
He also announced the removal of taxes which were imposed on condoms and other agricultural inputs in January this year adding the National Stabilization Levy shall also be removed by June 2014.
According to the Finance Minister, inflation rose from 10.1 in January to 13.1 in October 2013 due to fuel and utility tariff adjustment.
Hon. Seth Terkper added that government preferred the more efficient and reliable Value Added Tax system of raising money to fund its programmes and projects hence the decision to increase the VAT threshold by 2.5 per cent.
He also justified the increment of the VAT threshold saying it was necessary to support government's infrastructure expansion project.
However, speaking to GTV News after the delivery of the 2014 budget statement, Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stated that the budget was just the “same old same old stories”.
The Member of Parliament for Suame, government has been deceiving Ghanaians that the claim that 70 percent of revenue is used pay public sector workers.
According to him, the 2014 budget has revealed that a little over 50 percent is used to pay public sector workers. He added that House will convene later to debate on why the government has continuously thrown dust in the eyes of Ghanaians.
