The Parliamentary debate on the supplementary budget estimate submitted to the House by Finance Minister began yesterday with some New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament (MPs) describing it as a valueless document.
The NPP MPs, taking their turn to debate the estimate and mid-year review statement presented by Finance Minister Seth Terkper, said the supplementary budget was only going to make life more difficult for the citizens.
Taking his turn to debate the motion, NPP MP for Wenchi, Prof. Yaw Gyan-Baffour noted that details of the mid-year review statement indicate that life will be much harder than before adding that even with oil revenue, the growth rate was very slow.
Prof. Gyan-Baffour further noted that the government of the day had failed Ghanaians and people were tired and frustrated.
According to the Wenchi MP, the country is facing structural challenges and therefore putting in monetary measures will not solve the structural challenges.
He added that there was too much demand for foreign currency which is higher than the supply and the only way to solve it was to reduce the rising demand and ensure there was enough supply for foreign currency.
Furthermore, he advised that government ought to stop importing refined crude oil and rather import raw product for the Tema Oil Refinery to refine at a much cheaper rate.
MP for Obuasi West, Kwaku Kwarteng on his part noted that the economy is more troubled than before with looming hardship.
Mr. Kwarteng said the Finance Minister did not explain how government was dealing with the rising wage bill and efforts to generate more revenue to meet expenditure.
According to him, mismanagement and corruption were the causes of the country’s woes and until government dealt with that nothing would work.
But, NDC MP for Wa Central and Minister of State at the Presidency, Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo said this was not the first time the country was going through such challenges and thus would address the challenges.
Mr. Pelpuo said the review statement presented by the finance Minister showed there are a number of initiatives being used to tackle the challenges.
He stated that, initially, the country’s energy demand was 100MW every year, but due to the failure of other governments, the demand is now 100MW every month; however, government is putting in the necessary measures to meet the rising energy demand.
The Minister said government is working to address macroeconomic targets, reviewing grants, wages, salaries and interest rates.
A deputy Education Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa on his part also indicated that the mid-year review statement shows that 50 new Senior High Schools to be constructed in some districts have been awarded on contract.
He added that government will soon lay before Parliament a bill for the establishment of a public university in the Eastern region.
