Minority didn’t listen to 2016 budget – Mahama

President John Mahama has said he doubts if the minority members in parliament listened to the 2016 budget which was read in parliament by the Finance Minister last Friday.

According to him, the taunting placards which were displayed by the minority immediately after Seth Terkper finished reading the financial statement indicates that they had a predetermined position on the statement even before it was read.

The minority held placards which labeled the 2016 budget as “dead goat”. They claimed the plans and policies contained in the statement were a rehash of last year’s budget. They believe government’s promise of not overspending in the election year is only a propaganda message meant to win the trust of Ghanaians.

Commenting on the matter, the President told a gathering of NDC supporters in Tamale in the Northern region that there is no point debating the minority over the budget.

“I don’t think they even listened to the budget because they had printed ‘dead goat budget’ under their tables.

“There is no point debating them because there is no way they will find anything good in the budget,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Finance Minister believes Ghana has “produced tangible results” across board over the last one year and the “evidence is crystal clear” for Ghanaians to see.

He said per the achievements of the John Mahama administration, Ghanaians must not think twice in renewing the mandate of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2016 elections.

“In 2016, we will be seeking another mandate to lead the development process of our beloved country. We will stand proudly before our people with confidence in our choices and results achieved so far, and we will ask once again for their mandate and cooperation as we move forward to complete the job we started together.

"The Government will require support from this august House and cooperation of the good people of Ghana as we are resolute in our drive towards providing a better Ghana for us all. We believe that this budget provides yet another opportunity for all of us to work hand in hand to achieve the objectives we have set for ourselves.

“I wish to emphasise that under the able leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, we have acted decisively to address significant economic challenges and implemented socio-economic programmes with the view to “Changing Lives and Transforming Ghana.” The interventions outlined in this Budget will no doubt contribute significantly to the realisation of our brighter medium term prospects,” Terkper said.