2018 Budget is 'Azonto Budget', will make Ghanaians suffer more - Ayariga

Founder of the All People’s Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga has described the 2018 budget statement presented before Parliament by Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta as ‘’Azonto Budget.’’

At a press conference on Wednesday 22nd November 2017, the 2016 disqualified presidential candidate said although a budget should be a livewire, the 2018 budget is not.

“As you are all aware, the budget statement of every government is supposed to be the livewire of its citizens during the period it covers. Budgets are basically estimates. The New Patriotic Party in its eleventh month in office has presented its second Budget to Parliament after the first one in March this year which it called the Asempa budget. After the Asempa budget achieved nothing but Asembone for Ghanaians the New Patriotic Party has now brought another set of empty promises it is calling “Adwuma” budget. Having slapped heavy hardship on Ghanaians immediately after the Trojan horse budget, we have decided to delve into the hidden truth behind the empty essay presented by Ken Ofori Atta to parliament last week,” he said.

Hassan Ayariga added that “On the issue of fiscal discipline, the government boasted they resolved to be fiscally disciplined and respect the limits parliament set for them within it appropriation claiming they are well on course to end the year with a fiscal deficit of 6.3 percent lower than the 6.5 percent contained in the budget. He went on to praise himself that this is only the second time in a decade that a government has managed to stay within its budget deficit target. Hon Ken are we serious? Look this is ridiculous!!!! When you are not spending you will definitely stay within appropriation. In fact any government can achieve that by deciding to be lazy and not spending.”

“The 2018 budget is an Azonto budget for Ghanaians to dance to. The somersault from Asempa to Adwuma budget is an unmodulated beat of music that has no message. Practically Adwuma budget should be first before the Asempa budget, but our friends in the NPP couldn’t see it coming, hence it backfired.”

According to Mr Ayariga, “The truth is that as a result of the mismanagement and corruption in this New NPP’s and President Nana Addo’s administration stuffed with 110 ministers; Teacher are suffering and crying; Nurses are suffering and crying; Patients are Suffering and crying; Traders are suffering and crying; … When Dr. Hassan Ayariga talks, you say Ayariga is talking, how can a PHD holder supervise this? Sometimes we need to trust our leaders. Nana Addo promised a magic to create jobs by Ken Ofori Atta. We want to see jobs not flukes."