Budget debate is NPP's last window of opportunity - Kpesah Whyte

A political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon, Dr Michael Kpesah Whyte has said the minority should use its final window of opportunity, which is the reading of the budget, to make amends and perform their assigned tasks in parliament.

“… They want to use what I consider the final window of opportunity which is the reading of the budget as the entry point to get back into business and do what they are expected to do as members of parliament,” he stated.


The minority have stated they will actively participate in the debate of the budget when it is presented to parliament because they believe they had an obligation to hold the ruling government accountable.


But speaking to Citi News, Dr Whyte said Ghanaians should wait to see if the minority will keep their word before making certain analysis.


“I think we need to wait and see them in parliament participating in the budget reading and subsequently the discussions, before we can make definite statements and analysis on these,” he stated.

According to Dr Whyte, it was in the interest of both minority and majority to put an end to the matter as it was creating a level of uneasiness in the country.


“We have created some level of uneasiness and uncertainty in our country which does not favour individuals both local and foreign who would want to invest in the country and this will make it difficult for government to achieve its intentions,” he said.


He also said if the government failed to attract investors due to the atmosphere of the country, “the minority will be deprived of a moral right to criticize the government because you can’t create an environment that scares investors and turn around and say the government doesn’t perform.”


Dr Whyte further advised the minority to take the opportunity because, “If they close this window of opportunity, it will be extremely difficult for them to be taken seriously because no matter how genuine and well informed their argument may be on the floor of parliament, in the public’s mind, there will always be lingering the question of moral authority, ‘Why would you choose to ask questions about something you want nothing to do with?”