MPs expect budget to give hope to Ghanains

Accra , Nov 15, GNA - Members of Parliament (MPs) are keenly awaiting the presentation of country’s 2012 budget by Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, to the House on Wednesday, 16, 2011.

This follows the announcement by Mr Cletus Avoka, the Majority Leader, on Friday November 12 that the Minister would present to the House the financial policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December 2012. The Ghana News Agency learnt that expectation of some MPs was that the budget would give hope to Ghanaians and that it would not be a burden to the citizenry.

Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, New Patriotic Party MP Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, advised Government to identify other sources of revenue apart from taxes, and said the Government had declared this year an action year but so far nothing has been improved.

Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, Deputy Minister of Energy and MP for Tamale Central, said the budget would be a continuation of the Government’s economic management, which was heavily driven on investments and infrastructure. He said: ‘It would be an evidence of the commitment of government to ensuring that inflation is reduced and to continue to have a budget deficit under control’’.

Mr Afred Abayateye, National Democratic Congress MP for Sege, said he expected the budget to widen the tax net to rope in the informal sector of the economy, including hairdressers, seamstresses among others. The MP said he expected the budget to be flexible and it would not over burden the people.

The House discussed the University of Health and Allied Science Bill, 2011, which was at the consideration stage.