The Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, has advised the Majority in Parliament to avoid celebrating the approval of the 2024 Budget and Economic Policy statement in haste.
He stated that the Minority’s opposition to the budget is far from over and urged caution in this regard.
Speaking on Joy FM on Thursday, December 7, Mr Murtala Muhammed highlighted that while the approval of the policy statement of the budget is not the main concern, the approval of the budget’s estimates is the most crucial aspect that needs to be considered.
“Let’s not celebrate yet… what is critical is the approval of the estimates and mind you every component of the estimate is going to be voted upon and I am not too sure whether they’d [Majority side] be able to garner all their ministers and others to be in Parliament throughout December,” he said.
The lawmaker commented on the approval of the 2024 Budget and Economic Policy Statement by Parliament.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, conducted a headcount in response to opposition from the Minority side. The headcount revealed 138 Ayes, 136 Noes, and 1 absent. Mr Murtala Muhammed, in response, said that the Minority did not expect the budget to be passed.
However, he also indicated that the passing of the budget has not changed anything. He explained that the Minority protested against the budget due to the taxes imposed on the already struggling Ghanaians, and not just for the opposition’s sake.
“We opposed the approval of the budget because we had convinced reasons that it was empty and would worsen the situation of the ordinary Ghanaian,” he explained.
In response to the comments made by the Tamale Central MP, the Ofoase Ayirebi MP, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, dismissed the notion that the Majority side is celebrating the approval of the budget.
The Information Minister stated that their focus is on the estimates aspect of the budget and they aim to include it in the appropriation bill now that the economic aspect has been approved.
“We are very clear in our minds that our brothers on the other side, at this stage, want to play a political game of subjecting everything to a vote even when it is not a matter in contention because of the slim majority we have in Parliament.
On our side, we have to ensure that our members are all in the house when it matters to overcome those hurdles,” he added.
