Minority invites Bawumia to debate Mid-Year Budget in parliament

The NDC Minority in Parliament has extended a public invitation to Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to participate in the debate on the Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review of the 2024 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the government of Ghana.

The debate is scheduled to commence on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at 10 a.m. in the Parliamentary Chamber.

Given his role as Chairman of the Economic Management Team, the Minority believes it is fitting for the Vice President to be present and account for his stewardship over the past seven and a half years.

Parliamentary rules permit a sitting Vice President to participate in debates on the floor of the House, providing Alhaji Bawumia an excellent opportunity to engage in discourse regarding the nation’s economic state.

This invitation follows the Vice President’s recent call for a debate on the economy. The NDC Minority has expressed their readiness to confront the Vice President, highlighting what they describe as the government's abysmal economic performance.

They cited alarming statistics from the World Bank, including the fact that 33.3% of Ghana’s population is extremely poor, approximately two million Ghanaians face acute food and nutrition insecurity, and about 35% of Ghana’s youth are unemployed—the highest rate in the Fourth Republic.

To ensure a robust and comprehensive debate, the Minority has assembled a team of knowledgeable and competent members, including: George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan – Chairman, the Committee on Economy and Development, Isaac Adongo – Ranking Member, Finance Committee, Thomas Ampem Nyarko – Chairman, Budget Committee, John Abdulai Jinapor – Ranking Member, Committee on Energy and Member of the Finance Committee, Eric Opoku – Ranking Member, Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs, and Member of the Committee on Economy and Development, Laadi Ayii Ayamba – Member, Finance Committee and Ecowas Parliament, Joseph Bukari Nikpe – Ranking Member, Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and Pensions.

Ahmed Ibrahim, MP and Deputy Minority Whip, called on the general public to urge Vice President Bawumia to accept the invitation.

"If he is proud of his record, he should avail himself of this invitation or forever keep his silence," Ibrahim stated.

The upcoming debate promises to be a significant event, with both sides prepared to present their cases regarding the current economic situation and the government's performance.

Below is the statement:

PRESS STATEMENT

For Immediate Release 24th July, 2024.

NDC MINORITY INVITES VICE PRESIDENT BAWUMIA TO PARTICIPATE IN DEBATE ON MID-YEAR BUDGET REVIEW.

The NDC Minority in Parliament is inviting Vice President Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia to participate in the debate of the Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review of the 2024 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the government of Ghana.

The debate begins on Thursday, 25th July, 2024 in the Parliamentary Chamber at 10 O’clock in the forenoon.

The Minority is extending this public invitation to the Vice President given his role as Chairman of the Economic Management Team of the government.

Parliamentary rules permit a sitting Vice President to participate in debates on the floor of the House.

Pursuant to the Vice President’s recent call for a debate on the economy, this invitation presents Alhaji Bawumia an excellent opportunity and forum to debate and account for his stewardship over the last seven and a half years (7.5 years) as Chairman of the Economic Management Team.

The NDC Minority has lined up a crack team of highly knowledgeable and competent members on its side to debate Vice President Bawumia and further expose the abysmal economic performance of his government.

For a government that has completely destroyed Ghana’s economy, rendered 33.3% of Ghana’s population extremely poor, and about two million Ghanaians facing acute food and nutrition insecurity, according to the World Bank, and about 35% of Ghana’s youth unemployed (the highest in the Fourth Republic), the Minority finds it bewildering that Alhaji Bawumia still has the audacity to call for a debate on the economy.

That notwithstanding, the NDC Minority has lined up a crack team of debaters for the showdown with Alhaji Bawumia in the debating Chamber of Parliament. They include the following:

• Hon George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan – Chairman, Committee on Economy and Development • Hon Isaac Adongo – Ranking Member, Finance Committee • Hon Thomas Ampem Nyarko – Chairman, Budget Committee • Hon John Abdulai Jinapor – Ranking Member, Committee on Energy and Member of the Finance Committee • Hon Eric Opoku – Ranking Member, Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs, and Member of the Committee on Economy and Development • Hon Laadi Ayii Ayamba – Member, Finance Committee and Ecowas Parliament • Hon Joseph Bukari Nikpe – Ranking Member, Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and Pensions

In conclusion, we call on the general public to prevail on Vice President Alhaji Bawumia to avail himself of this invitation, if he is proud of his record, or he should forever keep his silence.

AHMED IBRAHIM, MP DEPUTY MINORITY WHIP

NAY/NOQ