Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori Atta, is expected to move a motion in Parliament on Monday, July 29, 2019, to present the mid-year review of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the government for the year ending December 31, 2019.
The exercise will be in line with the Public Financial Management Act, 2016, Act 921, which demands that the minister briefs the House mid-way on the fiscal policies of the government.
Deputy Majority Leader and Member of Parliament (MP) for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adjoa Safo, presenting the business statement for next week, said the debate on the statement will ensue a day after the presentation and concluded in the course of the week.
It is unclear why the motion for the mid-year presentation, originally slated for Monday July 22, 2019, has been rescheduled.
Meanwhile, Youth and Sports Minister, Isaac Kwame Asiamah, will appear before the House next week to brief the lawmakers on Ghana’s poor showing at the 2019 AFCON campaign in Egypt.
The Majority Leader and MP for Suame, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, said the Atwima Mponua lawmaker would make a statement either on Tuesday or Wednesday on Ghana’s failed attempt to annex the coveted trophy for the fifth time.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu’s assurance followed a question by Kumbungu MP, Ras Mubarak, who demanded answers for what he said was the abysmal performance of the senior national male football team at the continental showpiece.
The imminent appearance of the Sports Minister, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu explained, “Is not at the instance of the honourable member for Kumbungu.
“That agreement had already been extracted with the minister, but of course, it will satisfy [Ras Mubarak’s] own inquiry,” Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stated.
He gave the assurance that the minister would answer questions regarding Ghana’s ‘abysmal’ performance at the tournament.
The Majority Leader was answering questions emanating from the presentation of the Business Statement by his deputy, Ms Safo.
The Black Stars were knocked out at the round of 16 stage of the expanded championship, the 32 edition, by Tunisia via a 5-4 penalty.
The painful exit, has once again brought the spotlight on the team, which had reached the last four of the competition since 2008.
The House, in a related development, has passed a resolution for a $272 million water project for Northern Regional capital, Tamale, and its environs.
To be known as the Tamale Water Supply Scheme, the loan agreement with Biwater International Limited of England was approved by the House on Thursday.
Minority Leader and MP for Tamale South, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, said the project would go a long way to address the water challenges that people of Tamale and its adjourning communities had to endure over the years.
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI