Delay in 2023 budget presentation not surprising, govt is clueless – Agbenyo

The delay in the 2023 budget presentation by the Finance Minister is not surprising, Deputy Director of International Affairs of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Fred Agbenyo, has said.

In his view, the government is clueless and bereft of ideas therefore, has nothing to present to Ghanaians.

On Thursday November 3 the Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu announced to journalists that the presentation of the 2023 budget statement may delay.

It was supposed to have been presented on the 15th of November but may be pushed a bit forward due to the ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

“I am yet to have discussions with the Minister responsible for Finance to determine exactly when he will be able to present to us,” he said.

The Leader of Government business in Parliament added “it will be difficult to submit to the 15th deadline, I don’t know , I ma just conjecturing.”

“Nothing should be done which will eventually become wishy-washy. They want to have the best to be able to uplift us from where we are as a country.

“And that being the case, if we want to do a thorough job, I think there will be too much pressure if it has to be done on the 15th,” he added.

He added “But if you want to do tidy work, you may be required to have some space to be able to do a tidy job. Because as you all know, these are not normal times.”

Commenting on this on the Big Issue with Roland Walker on TV3 Friday November 4, Mr Agbneyo said “IMF is disappointed that Ghanaians don’t deserve where we are now but for the mismanagement of the economy. They are very skeptical, they are very reluctant.

“The government has nothing to present to us, the government is clueless, the government has no ides, I am not surprised the budget is delaying.

“There is some confusion in government, they don’t know what to present to the people, they don’t know what to tell Ghanaians.”

Responding to him, a Deputy Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Abdul Kamal Deen said this is not the first time budget presentation is delaying.

“We have read budget in January before, , the ‘Asempa Budget’,” he said.

Source:3news.com