[ 2016-07-21 ]

Mid-year budget review to be rescheduled?
Parliament is expected to decide today, whether or
not Finance Minister, Seth Terkper will appear
before the House to present this year’s mid-year
budget review, tomorrow, Friday July 22.

This follows an objection by the Minority Leader,
Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu to the timing of the
Finance Minister’s presentation.

Mr. Kyei Mensah Bonsu explained that the
presentation would clash with the schedule of the
funeral of the late MP for Abetifi, Peter Wiafe
Pepra.

The Deputy Majority Leader, Alfred Agbesi, who
delivered the notice of the Finance Minister to
the House, agreed with the Minority Leader that
the mid-year budget review would have to be
postponed.

But the final decision of the House will be
expected later today as the second Deputy Speaker,
Hon. Joe Ghartey, who presided over the issue,
directed the Business Committee of the House to
get in touch with the leadership to resolve the
matter.

“I think that the leadership should take the
matter up with the Speaker and Finance Minister
and give us the response tomorrow (Thursday)
because this is a very important matter and
honoring our departed colleague is also an
important matter,” he said.

Hon. Joe Ghartey added, “It will not look good
at all for us if we have the situation where
majority of the members are not present because
they may be taking part in the ceremony of our
departed colleague.”

The Finance Minister’s mid-year budget review is
expected to adjust financial targets with revenue
shortfalls in the year.

The Minister is likely to among other things
reduce revenue targets for 2016 in line with
falling international commodity prices.

Hon. Peter Wiafe Pepera, died on Saturday, May 21
at the 37 Military Hospital where he was on
admission.

The 62-year old MP was once a minister in the
National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration
before joining the NPP in 2001.

He was a Ranking Member on the Trade and Industry
Committee in Parliament.

Source - citifmonline.com

... go Back