The 2023 Budget Statement and the Economic Policy will be presented on Thursday, November 24, 2022.
This was revealed by Deputy Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin on Friday when he presented the business statement of parliament for the following week.
“The Minister responsible for Finance on the authority of the President of the Republic is scheduled to present the budget statement for the year ending 31st December 2023 in accordance with Article 179 on the 1992 Constitution on Thursday the 24th of November 2022,” he said.
He explained that the change in the initial date is due to an “unforeseen development.”
The reading was initially scheduled for November 15, 2022.
However, Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu had earlier indicated that the presentation of the budget would delay due to the ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund(IMF).
According to Mr Afenyo-Markin, there would be a post-budget workshop in the Volta Region from Friday, November 25 to November 28, for the MPs to be educated on the budget.
But some members proposed for the post-workshop to be held in Accra in Parliament amidst calls for the government to cut down its expenditure in the country’s current economic crisis.
“Mr Speaker, … we should have the post-budget workshop here in this Chamber so that Parliament will also be seen to be advancing the calls of cutting down of expenditure,” Deputy Minister for Fisheries, Moses Anim said.
This presentation will be done at a time when there are several calls for the resignation of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
Prominent among those who are calling for the removal of the Finance Minister is the Majority Caucus in parliament.
The MPs have called for the removal of Mr Ofori-Atta and the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Charles Adu Boahen, for overseeing the nation’s ailing economy.
They have also served notice they do not want Ken Ofori-Atta to present the budget.
Meanwhile, the Minority has moved a motion of censure against Mr Ofori-Atta.