Ellembelle MP blasts Finance Minister over absence in parliament as debate on budget continues

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(credit: TheMordenGhana)

Mr. Emmanuel Kofi Armah Buah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle Constituency, has chastised Finance Minister Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta for his absence from parliament today.

Despite concerns made by the Minority, changes to the majority government’s 2022 budget statement and economic strategy proposal announced by the Finance Minister were agreed by parliament today.

Mr. Emmanuel Kofi Armah Boah, an Ellembelle MP, expressed his displeasure with Mr. Ken Ofori-demeanor Atta’s during the budget debate.

Absenteeism from today’s key debates in parliament, he claims, is not helpful and could delay negotiations on the 2022 budget.

If the budget is left hanging when parliament adjourns later this month, the former Energy Minister argues that the Finance Minister is to blame.

“Mr. Speaker I’m very concerned about the posture and responsiveness of the Minister of Finance. Even today, a day as important as this, he is not here.

“Mr. Speaker, today is the 7th, and we are rising in 10 days, the business of this house will end. Don’t blame the Minority when at the end of the year this government does not have a budget. Blame the Majority and the Minister of Finance,” the Ellembelle MP emphasised.

Although the Minority are content with some of the modifications made to the 2022 budget, it maintains that the issue of the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) is still a no-no.

With negotiations yet to see any progress, it could hold back the budget until next year.