Cocoa farmers in the Western North Region are demanding immediate steps to amend the Concession Act 1962 (Act 124) to ensure farmers receive reasonable benefit from proceeds accrued from the commercialization of off-reserve timber resources.
Project Manager, TROPENBOS Ghana, Boakye Twumasi Ankra, on behalf of the farmers, explained that the Concession Act 1962 (Act 124) gave the state authority over all naturally occurring trees, which was not motivative enough for farmers to genuinely nurture the trees on their farms
The planting or nurturing of trees and timber resources forms part of a major climate change mitigation strategies for most farmers, but existing tree tenure and benefits sharing arrangements for off-reserve timber resources had been a great disincentive to the farmers.
With support from TROPENBOS Ghana, they called on the Forestry Commission to take urgent steps to address the situation to improve tree cover in off-reserve areas, and help combat climate change, while enhancing sustainability.
Mr Twumasi Ankra who was speaking at a sensitisation programme for more than 300 farmers in region, noted with concern, the deprivation and forcible seizure of the tree ownership rights from farmers.
“The only right the farmer has is to give written consent to the harvesting of specified trees on their farms with no direct financial benefit from revenue accrued from such trees.”
Mr Ankra, therefore, urged stakeholders to initiate steps to amend the law to help farmers benefit directly from trees on their farms.
The Guan District Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in the Oti Region has intensified public education on the upcoming district level elections.
The move is to whip up interest in the polls, which have witnessed low turn-out over the years.
the Guan District Director, NCCE, Mr Abass Uthman,addressing Chiefs and people of Likpe-Mate, urged them to take keen interest in the polls as its importance could not be over-emphasised.
He said participation in the elections was necessary because it formed the base structure of the local government system in Ghana, thus would help deepen local governance and consolidate the country’s democratic gains.
Mr Abass noted that the development of the local governance system mandated the citizenry to elect to office individuals who would seek their welfare, hence the election must be deviod of partisanship, but rather on competence, experience and the willingness to serve the people.
He, however, bemoaned the level of voter apathy and disinterest in the polls saying it threatened democratic governance and advised the electorate to desist from taking money from the candidates before voting for them.
Chief of Likpe-Mate, Nana Ofori Gyahene III, in a speech read on his behalf, commended the NCCE for the programme and asked for its replication in other areas to create awareness.
The Electoral Commission has announced December 19, 2023 for the District Level Election in the Jasikan and Guan districts following the passage of the Constitutional Instrument (CI) 119 and in accordance with the District Level Elections Regulations, 2015 (CI 89).
A significant portion of the working Ghanaian population – 64 percent – are financially stressed, says a study dubbed Old Mutual Financial Services Monitor (OMFSM).
The study, which was carried out in four African countries – South African, Namibia, Kenya or and Ghana, revealed that 72 percent of lower income earners in the country are stressed; with those in the informal sector worst-affected at 68 percent. This makes Ghanaian consumers the most financially stressed among the four countries.
The report also highlighted that income security is the top priority for Ghanaian consumers, followed by managing their expenses downward – such as putting major expenditure plans on hold, switching to more affordable retail brands and repairing and maintaining existing assets, and ensuring that their investments are secured.
“We found that Ghanaian consumers are incredibly stressed among the four countries where we did the survey, which are South African, Namibia, Kenya and Ghana. Ghana comes highest in terms of financial stress and people are extremely worried about income security. Their number-one priority is ensuring that they earn income, whether through business or their jobs.
Their second priority is ensuring that their savings are insured and their investment is secured,” said head of knowledge and insights at Old Mutual, Vuyokazi Mabude.
With regard to income, 44 percent shared that they rely on a single source of income; while about 1 in 4 (24 percent) are poly-jobbers – side-hustling, freelancing and doing after hours work in addition to their regular job.
“Poly-jobbers are more prevalent among those earning GHȼ3,000 or more (37 percent). Through further encouraging and supporting entrepreneurship, we expect this percentage may grow as we have seen among younger consumers in South Africa – thus helping to address the youth unemployment issue in Ghana,” the report indicated.
• Income security tops priority for many
• 44% rely on a single source of income
• 61% dips into their savings monthly to make ends meet
• Only 37% actively saves for retirement
Savings
The report has it that saving is important to Ghanaians, with 25 percent of their household allocation going toward savings. However, the focus is on short-term saving rather than longer term investing for the future. This is further evidenced by 61 percent who admit dipping into their savings to make ends meet.
Thus, Ms. Vuyokazi Mabude noted that: “The saving behaviour we see in Ghana is positive; however, the risk is immature saving – whereby people are saving and using that money to make ends meet. So, 61 percent of Ghanaians currently tap into their savings to make ends meet every month which poses a risk from the long-term financial wellness perspective. And also from a financial goals priority perspective, because that is money being taken away from children’s education, building businesses and building their home”.
Just as with Kenya and Namibia, retirement savings does not make it to the top set of working Ghanaians’ savings goals – ranking only 8th; and this percentage is particularly low among younger and less affluent consumers earning less than GHȼ3,000.
“Only just over one-third say they are actively saving for retirement, 37 percent; and only 7% note having a retirement annuity product. Furthermore, there is low confidence in the adequacy of their retirement savings (18 percent). Potentially driving the lack of action to save for retirement is an attitude of dependency on children to provide support when they retire,” the report stated.
Generally, given the recessionary environment, consumer confidence in the Ghana economy is low, with less than one in six of working Ghanaians showing confidence in the economy.
Other findings and recommendations
The Old Mutual Financial Services Monitor results reveal that while working Ghanaians are resilient, self-reliant, positive and persevering to make ends meet, their noted short-term focus flags the risk of a working population who will continue struggling to manage their day-to-day livelihood due to their dependence on savings being used as an expense management vehicle.
The dependency on savings to address their day to day needs and fund their businesses places a huge strain on consumers, as they struggle to keep their savings-pot filled. Looking for additional ways of sourcing income through poly-jobbing may help reduce the need to tap into savings for short-term needs.
The study highlights a need for financial education, in particular money management and budgeting.
“Furthermore, the role of employers in helping to educate and inform employees in a manner that is understandable and relevant to their needs is not being met.
“The more Ghanaian consumers are equipped to manage their day-to-day affairs, the less reliant they will be on their savings in the short-term – allowing for incremental growth to sustain them in the medium-term,” it stated.
With this at hand, Chief Executive Officer-Old Mutual Ghana, Tavona Biza, assured that his outfit will take further measures in terms of its products to help citizens change the narrative and become financially resilient.
OMFSM
The Old Mutual Financial Services Monitor (OMFSM) is an annual study that offers invaluable insights by focusing on a key cohort in society – namely employed Ghanaians, who account for about 60 percent of the Ghanaian population aged 25 to 59 years and earn an income of GHȼ1,000 or more, and who reside in urban and peri-urban areas.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has disclosed that the release of Ghana’s second tranche of $600m will solely depend on successful agreement with external creditors.
According to the IMF, that it critical for Ghana to complete the discussions with the external creditors to pave the way for the Board to approve the disbursement.
Director of the IMF’s Communications Department, Julie Kozack who was addressing a press conference in Washington D.C, USA said the Board can only go ahead to approve the second tranche funding if the discussions with the external creditors are concluded and the conclusions presented to the Board.
“To ensure timely completion of the review, official creditors and the Ghanaian authorities will need to reach agreement on a debt treatment, consistent with the objectives of the programme, and in line with the financing assurances that creditors provided in May of 2023”, she said.
Ghana is expected to conclude debt restructuring agreement with external creditors, particularly China, which has proposed new cut-off date.
Discussions with the Official Creditor Committee are ongoing to settle on an agreed date for the debt restructuring.
She expressed optimism that both parties will reach an agreement soon.
“Discussions between the Ghanaian authorities and the Official Creditor Committee are ongoing, and we certainly hope that an agreement can be reached soon so that we can rapidly bring the program to the Board”.
Ghana missed out on the November 1 timeline set in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme to get a second tranche of the $3 billion bailout package as the country’s debt rework negotiations with external creditors delay.
The country has already submitted proposals to its commercial creditors seeking a haircut of up to 40% and additional debt rework with its bilateral creditors including China and the Paris Club.
Prior to the first disbursement, Ghana had to secure financial assurance from its external creditors, a requirement fulfilled before the IMF Executive Board approved the payment.
Under the three-year ECF programme, the Ghanaian government plans to restructure around $10.5 billion of its external debt, which stood at nearly $30 billion in June 2023
IMPLICATIONS
PricewaterhouseCoopers Ghana (PwC), an auditing and tax firm, says if negotiations with external creditors and debt holders are not concluded expeditiously, Ghana’s economic recovery could stall.
PwC indicated that the delayed negotiations might make the investor community and financial markets jittery, and the international rating agencies may thrust Ghana’s bond ratings further into junk credit territory.
The auditing agency disclosed this in its 2024 Budget Digest on the theme: « Pursuing Growth and Development within a Stable Macroeconomic Environment.”
2024 Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has re-affirmed his optimism that his 24-hour economy policy proposal, will be a game-changer for Ghana.
According to the former President, the initiative which is expected to attract major businesses in the industry and the manufacturing sector through incentives, will not only create jobs especially for the youth, but boost growth massive infrastructure development and improve revenue generation.
Mr Mahama was speaking at the the Ninth Ghana CEO Network Business Cocktail in Accra, on the theme: “The CEO Imperative: How are CEOs Responding to the New Economic Reality?”
He noted that a future NDC Government would vigorously pursue the policy, amongst many other initiatives, as part of its broader vision and determination to increase economic growth, create jobs, and improve the quality of life of Ghanaians.
“We shall work with you to build the Ghana we want together” Mr Mahama said adding that this will focus on projects and programmes to transform by optimising available resources.
“I acknowledge the massive support for the initiative by the Trades Union Congress, civil society organisations, journalists, lecturers, labour consultants, CEOs and captains of industry, personnel from the creative arts industry, drivers, traders, and the teeming unemployed youth of Ghana. “
“To build the Ghana we want together with the people will be premised on building an industrialised, inclusive, and resilient economy that creates well-paying jobs and creating an equitable, healthy, and prosperous nation.”
He mentioned developing well-planned, safe communities while protecting the natural environment; building effective, efficient, and dynamic institutions for national development; and strengthening Ghana’s role in African and international affairs as part of the proposal.
“This might be classified as an idea whose time has come due to Ghana’s self-inflicted economic crisis today because the 24-hour economy initaitive was well-thought-through and captured on page 105 of the NDC’s 2020 People’s Manifesto.”
Its roots emanated from the 40-year National Development Plan of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) put together when he was President, Mr Mahama said.
“Unfortunately, the present government discarded the 40-year plan and replaced it with a Ghana Beyond Aid plan that has turned « Ghana into a beggar nation ».
He said stripped to the essentials, the 24-hour policy would be a three-shift work schedule in many sectors with an intent to transform Ghana into a self-sufficient and export-led economy.
Wholly owned Ghanaian airline Goldstar Air (Wings of Ghana) and Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), which operates ten airports, eight heliports, and one water aerodrome, have agreed on incentive packages for the Toronto-Accra route.
These aviation facilities are situated within and around Toronto and its neighboring cities, serving airline passengers, regional air travel, and commercial cargo transportation.
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), located mainly in Mississauga, is the busiest airport in Canada and hosts international travel with various airlines. Billy Bishop Toronto
City Airport (YTZ) on the Toronto Islands is a regional airport, providing regular services to United States destinations.
John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport (YHM) in Hamilton is a base for low-cost carriers that fly domestic and transatlantic routes.
Pearson, Bishop, and Hamilton combined to place Toronto twenty-third (23rd) on the World’s Best Cities list for 2024, inching one spot higher than where it ranked last year.
Special appreciation from the Chief Executive Officer Eric Bannerman and the management of Goldstar Air to the highest office of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, the Chief Executive Officer, the Board of Directors, and the entire Air Service Development team for your ambitious sustainability policies and first-of-its kind incentive
packages from your authority to our airline.
The Greater Toronto Airports Authority unleashes incentive packages to provide Goldstar Air with marketing funds to support awareness campaigns for the airline, which will be adding new capacity to Toronto.
These include print media, digital/social media, terminal advertising, travel/trade, and inaugural event activities, among other promotional activities, and will work closely with national, provincial, and city tourism organizations to
promote these new Air Services in Toronto and it will be part of our 24-hour service from Kumasi and Kotoka International Airport terminal Two, as well as our One Hundred Thousand direct and indirect jobs initiative.
The new direct service will help boost investment, tourism, diplomatic, socioeconomic bonds, and economic tools for the two countries and will be connecting other Africa and
North America cities.
Goldstar Air is looking forward to satisfying the demands of our passengers, since they will want to go to their final destinations in an easy, concise, and well-structured way, not having to arrive at complicated airports, pick up suitcases, check in again, miss the flight, and all those other things that happen.
Providing connectivity is fundamental to helping improve the customer experience when flying with us around the world; therefore, Goldstar Air is collaborating with other airlines
to launch an airline alliance called Afrik Allianz to expand routes, share resources, and establish a seamless travel experience for international passengers who will get access to
multiple destinations and more convenient airway connections.
In 2019, Toronto Pearson welcomed 50.5 million annual passengers, which represented one-third of Canada’s air passenger volume. Toronto Pearson grew by approximately 20 million passengers between 2009 and 2019 while integrating several international carriers and offering direct service to 180 destinations worldwide. 2022 saw Toronto Pearson return to approximately 70% of 2019 volumes, with that number being closer to 90% over the last few months.
In 2022, Toronto Pearson welcomed seven new airlines and launched over 30 new routes. Nearly all commercial airline partners serving Toronto
Pearson in 2019 have returned, with many increasing their presence. This emphasizes the importance of the Toronto and Canadian markets to our airline and the role they will play
in our success.
Toronto is one of the most diverse regions in the world, with over 50% of the population identifying as being foreign-born. It is also the fourth-largest city in North America.
The Toronto region is home to 6.5 million people, and the population is projected to grow by 10% by 2032. Toronto is also the largest contributor to the Canadian economy, home to 38% of Canada’s business headquarters, 20% of Canada’s GDP, and 50% of Ontario’s GDP.
It is the 2nd largest financial center in North America, the largest technology hub in Canada, and the 3rd largest in North America. 25% of Canada’s population is within 160 km of Toronto, and it is home to a large Ghanaian diaspora.
With direct flights to only Cairo and Addis Ababa in Africa, Western Africa is completely unserved from Toronto.
Africa is a region that has been identified as being severely underserved and one where the Goldstar Air and Greater Toronto Airports Authority
believe significant opportunity for growth exists, as Toronto represents 62% of the total Canadian market.
In 2022, Toronto ranked as the third-largest market for travel to and from Accra in North America, following New York and Washington. This positioning renders Toronto Pearson International Airport as the most substantial untapped market on the continent.
Accra is a year-round market from Toronto with a seasonal profile that is similar to what is experienced in served markets in New York and Washington.
The Toronto Pearson International Airport market reacts quickly when new services are launched, and while
stimulation can vary depending on the market, Accra is a strong candidate for significant stimulation, as Toronto is home to a strong West African diaspora.
Goldstar Air will initially be flying from Kumasi International Airport to six destinations, namely London, Rome, Hamburg, Madrid, Dusseldorf, and Milan, and thirteendestinations from Accra (Kotoka International Airport), namely Toronto, Washington,
Lagos, London, Monrovia, Abidjan, Freetown, Dubai, Guangzhou, Rhode Island, Dakar, Banjul, Conakry, and pending cities such as Miami-Florida, Atlanta-Georgia, Chicago-
Illinois, Glasgow-Scotland, Houston, Texas, and many more.
West Africa, despite its forty-plus airports and over three hundred million people in fifteen countries, lacks a strong airline and has no airport hub; therefore, Goldstar Air wants to be a strong carrier initially in West Africa and later in the whole of Africa.
In the United States of America, we have been offered two years of free landing, parking, advertising, and office space by Mr. Pimental, Assistant Vice President of Air Service Development at Providence International Airport, and Mr. Stock, Director of Air Service Department and Strategic Analysis at Baltimore Washington International Airport.
In Scotland, which will be our future destination, we have been offered one year of free landing, parking, and office space by Mr. Paul White, Business Development Manager, and Mr. Robert Love, Aero Commercial Analyst at Glasgow International Airport.
Parliament has given its nod to secure a $150 million loan agreement from the World Bank.
The fund, received from the International Development Association of the Bank, is for the West Africa Coastal Areas (WACA) Resilience Investment Project 2.
The WACA programme was launched in 2018 in response to some countries’ request for solutions and finance to help protect and restore the ecological, social, and economic assets of West Africa’s coastal areas by addressing coastal erosion, flooding, and pollution.
It helps participating countries to stabilize the coastline, prevent loss of critical infrastructure including coastal roads for transport, and to support healthy and productive coastal waters needed for food security and natural capital.
With the second WACA project approved, the total World Bank financing to the WACA Program amounts to $492 million covering engagements in nine countries, including: Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Sao Tome and Togo.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Chairman of the Finance Committee, Kwaku Kwarteng, said the money will help deal with tidal waves in coastal areas such as Keta in the Volta Region.
The House also approved a loan agreement of $200 million from the World Bank Group for the financing of the Ghana Tree Crop Diversification Project.
The NDC Parliamentary candidate for Sagnarigu, Mr Attah Issah, has blamed the heightening unemployment in the country on the incompetence of the Akufo-Addo government.
The financial analyst who was speaking in an interview on TV XYZ noted that, the government’s ‘One District One Factory’ policy was implemented poorly, leaving many districts without industries to help add value to their common raw materials in the country.
Mr Issah said as a result of the government’s failure to fulfill that industrialization drive promise, unemployment rate has skyrocketed in the past seven years under the NPP administration.
For instance, he indicated that his constituency–Sagnarigu– in Tamale cannot boast of any factory to add value to the raw materials being harvested in the area.
“This government hasn’t created anything in my constituency that will recruit people,” he lamented.
Attah Issah made this observation while commenting on the feasibility of a pledge by the NDC’s flag bearer, Mr John Mahama, to revive the country’s ailing financial architecture through a 24-hour way of doing business.
Describing it as a game changer that will thrive on industrialization, Attah Issah stated that the policy will create sustainable jobs in Sagnarigu for the people.
“This policy will be a stimulus package , that will invite businesses to sign up to.
Security will be available and then citizens will get jobs . We won’t have graduate unemployment in the third quarter alone to be 25%.”
“In my constituency, fortunately, we are a farming community. Look, the value chain is a problem; we are harvesting currently….I am a farmer. I just finished harvesting my maize. Now, when the maize is harvested, we bring it straight to Accra raw. You know our tax regime; location is also influencing your tax percentage, so when there is an incentive for somebody to process maize into something and they set it up in my constituency, I have a lot of graduate unemployed people who will take advantage of it,” Attah Issah noted.
Adding weight to the policy, he explained that his constituency is “just like an outlier” stressing that “we stand to benefit immensely from” the policy under the next John Dramani Mahama government.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has made it clear to the Government of Ghana that it cannot impose or intensify import restrictions for balance of payments purposes.
This is an agreement contained in the IMF bailout package which has pledged to support Ghana’s balance of payment with some $3 billion between 2023 and 2026.
“No imposition or intensification of import restrictions for balance of payments reasons”, the Fund stressed on page 76 of the programme document. Amongst other things, there are four decisions the Government of Ghana cannot take while it is still under the IMF programme. These decisions align with performance criteria common to all Fund arrangements, which include:
No imposition or intensification of restrictions on making payments and transfers for current international transactions.
No introduction or modification of multiple currency practices.
No conclusion of bilateral payments agreements inconsistent with Article VIII of the IMF Articles of Arrangement.
No imposition or intensification of import restrictions for balance of payments reasons.
The Fund emphasised that these four performance criteria will be monitored continuously.
The Government of Ghana on Thursday made a surprising suspension of the decision to put the L.I. before parliament, which sought to place the importation of 22-listed products under restrictions. It had tried on three occasions, without success, to lay the bill before the house.
The Minority in Parliament urged President Akufo-Addo to immediately withdraw the regulation seeking to restrict the importation of rice, cement, fish, sugar, guts, bladders, and animal stomachs, known as ‘yemuadie’.
The Trade Minister, K.T Hammond, who was pushing this regulation hoped it will help the cedi appreciate as well as help grow local industries.
Per the proposed regulation, any person seeking to import the selected products would have been required to obtain permission from the Trade Minister.
Ghana’s import bill according to Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, exceeds $10 billion annually and is accounted for by a diverse range of items including palm oil, toilet roll, and even toothpick. While Ghana needs over $500 million to import rice, the trade minister says the importation of ‘yemuadie’ cost the state some $164 million in imports.
An Accra High Court has granted GH₵200,000 bail with one surety to the alleged girlfriend of Benett Agyekum Adomah alias Kikibee.
Mam Yandey Joof, a hotelier, filed for bail pending trial at the High Court (Criminal Court 5). Joof is facing a charge of murder following the death of her boyfriend, Kikibee, the owner of Kikibee restaurant.
Kikibee is said to have behaved strangely in Joof’s apartment. She and a friend rushed him to the hospital, but he (Kikibee) allegedly died shortly.
Joof, who has been appearing before a Madina District Court, has had her plea reserved.
Mr Muniru Kassim, in a plea for bail pending trial, told the court that after receiving the autopsy report, the charges against his client had no bearing on the facts presented.
Mr. Kassim said the deceased, according to the postmortem report, died of “severe fall due to alcohol ingestion.” According to him, Joof had a fixed address, worked at a hotel, and had people of sufficient means to stand surety when bail was granted.
Mr Kassim admitted that Joof was in an amorous relationship with the deceased before his sudden death.
According to the defense counsel, three months before the incident that resulted in Kikibee’s death, he (Kikibee) left the country and returned on October 7, 2023. He said around midnight, the same day, the deceased visited Joof’s apartment at East Legon.
The defence counsel said about 0130 hours, Kikibee began hallucinating and said that “some people were after him.”
He said that Kikibee broke some items in the apartment and made so much commotion that the occupants were awoken.
Joof then went downstairs and asked a friend of the deceased to assist her with the matter.
“It was at this point that when the applicant (Joof) was downstairs waiting for the arrival of the deceased friend that the deceased fell heavily creating a budding noise.
“When the friend arrived, they went upstairs, and they found the deceased lying unconscious. He (the deceased) was rushed to the hospital where he eventually died,” the defence counsel told the court.
According to counsel, “the facts do not support the charges and charge does not contain any ingredients of murder.”
Miriam Boakye Yiadom, a State Attorney, objected to the bail application, claiming that it was not the first time that Joof had applied for bail before the court.
She said Joof filed for bail on October 18,2023.
According to the state attorney, the bail application had been turned down by another High Court She said investigations were underway and prayed for the court to decline the bail application.
Parliament has finally approved the 2024 Budget Statement & Economic Policy of the Akufo-Addo government.
This decision came after the Speaker conducted a headcount on Thursday, December 7, 2023 in the Chamber.
The budget was presented on Wednesday, November 15, by Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
The headcount, conducted today, was initially resisted by Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu.
However, the Speaker did not budge, insisting that he was within his mandate in deciding to go with that modality.
The headcount results are as follows:
Aye: 138
No: 136
Absent: 1
However, the road to this passage was a dramatic one.
On November 29, the Majority staged a walkout during the approval of the statement, claiming the Speaker was conducting himself in an unfortunate and improper manner.
According to them, the Speaker, in his utterance following a voice vote on the floor that day, had ruled in favor of the Majority side, only to beat a retreat after the Minority had challenged the voice vote and demanded a headcount.
They further accused the Speaker of employing delay tactics to ensure that members on the Minority side who were not in the chamber could rush in to be counted after the Speaker had demanded that members stand after their names were mentioned to be counted.
“What is happening is that there are five members of the minority who are not here, so all that he’s doing is to play for time to enable them to come to the chamber. That is it, that’s all that it is,” the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu had said.
However, making a case for his alleged u-turn, the Speaker said he had merely uttered an opinion and had not delivered a ruling.
He said, “So throughout the practice when it’s an opinion, you say I think, I think, that is an opinion I’m expressing. I think the ayes have it. Now an opportunity is created for somebody to challenge the opinion and so when you read 113 (2) it doesn’t talk about ruling, it talks about the opinion that’s why it says a member may call for a headcount or division if the opinion of Mr Speaker on a voice vote is challenged.”
On November 30, the Speaker directed the business committee to reschedule the headcount to today for a final decision to be taken on the budget.
A deputy national communication officer of the NDC, Godwin Ako Gunn has urged members of the party to commend the Minority caucus for rejecting the 2024 Budget and Economic Policy of the government in their numbers.
The Minority had argued that the taxes the government wanted to impose on Ghanaians at a time the hardship in the country keeps skyrocketing were too much.
The caucus thus blocked the approval of the budget a couple of times.
But today, Parliament finally approved the 2024 budget, despite stiff opposition from the Minority.
After the headcount, the Majority caucus had 138 votes while the minority caucus had 136 votes.
But Ako Gunn in a statement said the budget presented to Parliament is “one of the worst ever in the history of Ghana” but was enthused by the energy 9f the minority in rejecting it.
“Our parliamentary leadership has so far done wonderful work by exposing the wickedness of the NPP, the hardships ahead of us, and the difficulties businesses and citizens are going to face next year,” he added.
Below is his statement;
LET US APPLAUD THE RESILIENCE OF THE MINORITY FOR A GREAT WORK!*
07/12/23
BY: Godwin Ako Gunn
Today is a significant day on our political calendar, 7th December 2023. Just a year more to go.
The budget presented to Parliament is one of the worst ever in the history of Ghana. Our parliamentary leadership has so far done wonderful work by exposing the wickedness of the NPP, the hardships ahead of us, and the difficulties businesses and citizens are going to face next year. As it stands, the budget has gone through. Let’s brace up for 2024.
Comrades, again, It is a great day because the unity of the minority has been reinforced !!! 100% on our side voted “No,” and that was significant. Thank you, Hon. Minority MPs for going through this long haul on our behalf.
There was no way we were going to win this headcount unless the members on the other side refused to appear or cared for the people of Ghana.
On our side, we have done our part. We fought a good fight for the people of Ghana, yet we were limited by our numbers.
Next year, just about this time, when you are handed the ballot paper, think about today, think about the sacrifices of the Minority in Parliament, and grant the NDC the majority in parliament. Never say your vote won’t matter. Prepare for the better days ahead.
KUN FA YAKUN
Source: Myxyzonline.com
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