'Empty' 2023 budget just full of grammar - Minority jabs Ofori-Atta

The Minority in Parliament has described the budget for the 2023 fiscal year as empty.

According to the caucus, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta should be reminded that he is the finance minister and not an English minister.

“What he gave to us was nothing but grammar", the Ranking Member of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson told the press.

He said Mr Ofori-Aatta "has informed us clearly that the Ghanaian economy is, indeed, in an Intensive Care Unit".

“This minister has informed us that going forward to the year 2023, there is going to be a freeze on employment at a time when we know that unemployment, particularly with the youth, is in excess of 50 per cent,” Dr Forson noted.

“The caucus contends that the measures announced by the government, as part of efforts to generate revenue would only worsen the economic condition of Ghanaians,” he continued.

While presenting the budget in parliament on Thursday, Mr Ofori-Atta, among other things, announced an increase in VAT from 12.5 per cent to 15 per cent.