NPP directs all MPs not to boycott 2023 budget and govt business

By Newscenta On Nov 23, 2022

The leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the leadership of NPP Majority Caucus in Parliament have called on all NPP Members of Parliament (MPs) to attend to all government business in house especially the 2023 budget statement and economic policy and all connected matters.

Leadership and the party consequently directed all MPs to resort to the caucus communication channels to the largest extent possible and work together as one.

The decision is contained in a joint statement issued by the parliamentary leadership and the party signed by Frank Annor Dompreh, the Majority Chief Whip and Justin Kodua Frimpong, General Secretary of NPP.

The statement dated November 22, 2022 focused on the resolution of the impasse in the NPP Parliamentary group emanating from a meeting between majority leadership and the party and the Council of Elders.

Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, is expected to present to Parliament the 2023 Budget and Economic Policy of the government on Thursday November 24, 2022.

He will be presenting the budget to Parliament for and on behalf of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on the authority of Article 179(1) of Ghana’s Constitution of 1992, which commands the President to “cause to be prepared and laid before Parliament at least one month before the end of the financial year, estimates of the revenues and expenditure of the Government of Ghana for the following financial year.”

However, some NPP MPs who want the Finance Minister sacked insist on boycotting the presentation if Ofori-Atta presents the budget.

Per the statement, the party expressed concern about occasional individual interventions some of which have not helped the resolution of the matter.

According to them, some of the interventions have contributed to the escalation of tension and suspicions.

Leadership and party therefore directed all NPP MPs to abide by the agreement reached with President Nana Akufo-Addo to allow Ofori-Atta to present the budget, secure passage of Appropriations Bill and conclude ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) before revisiting the demand for the Finance Minister’s removal from office.