The much-anticipated Mid-Year Budget Review by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has been postponed to Monday, July 31.
Originally slated for July 27, 2023, the presentation was later rescheduled to July 25, 2023, only to be canceled again until further notice.
The last-minute cancellation of the budget review has stirred curiosity among Members of Parliament (MPs) and the public alike, with various speculations emerging about the possible reasons behind the delay.
In a communication to the house, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, announced that the Finance Minister would engage in an intensive meeting with the MPs on Friday, July 28, 2023, ahead of the rescheduled presentation
“On Friday, the Minister of Finance will be available to hold an intensive meeting with MPs. This is an agreement entered into between leadership and the Ministry of Finance as a prelude to the presentation of the midyear review and possibly the supplementary budget on Monday, July 31, 2023.”
“In view of that, I will have to plead with you for us to have an extended sitting today. We have a number of matters before us that we will have to conclude.”
The Speaker also announced that the house will not sit on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, due to the National Development Conference which will require the mandatory presence of Members of Parliament and himself.
“We have a very important national event hosted by our partners in the church and from his excellency to my good self to the chief justice, the former president, some ministers and all the important authorities in the country will have to convene to look at a very critical national agenda.”
“In view of that, MPs are compulsorily to be present so we will not sit tomorrow. We will sit on Thursday and on Friday the Minister of Finance will be available to hold an intensive meeting with MPs.”
Source:citinewsroom
