2022 Budget: Kennedy Agyapong returns in Parliament to take part in the controversial budget approval
Information reaching this platform has it that Kennedy Agyapong, the Assin Central Member of Parliament who has traveled to the country for sometime now has arrived in Ghana Parliament to take part in the controversial 2022 budget budget approval. Both caucuses of the House are gathering their members ahead of the vote to defend their positions. Reports say the Majority side is still expecting Dome-Kwabenya MP Adwoa Safo who is also in the United States to return before the ballot. The Minority have threatened they will vote against the budget because over the E-levy which is aimed at taxing Mobile Money transfers. Earlier Speaker Alban Bagbin has suspended sitting as a result of the absence of NPP MPs in the House. Members of Parliament from the governing NPP failed to show up for Friday’s sitting where the House is expected to conclude the debate on the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December, 2022. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs contend the move is because the Majority side does not have the full complement of their members for the impending decision on the government’s Economic Policy. The Minority through Ningo-Prampram MP, Sam George had accused the Majority Caucus of deliberately delaying proceedings with their absence from the chamber as of midday Friday. However, the Majority Chief whip, Frank Annor Dompreh, however refuted the claim by the Minority explaining that his side had been locked up in a caucus meeting as well as leadership meeting with the Speaker. But, when the Speaker entered the Chamber at 16 minutes past 1:00pm, only the Minority MPs were present. The development compelled the Speaker to suspend sitting after the Deputy Minority Whip, Ibrahim Ahmed, raised the issue of the absence of the Majority Leadership in spite of their presence in the precincts of Parliament. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/ Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
2022 budget voting: Majority MPs missing in Parliament as Bagbin suspend proceedings
The Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Bagbin has suspended Parliament for 30 minutes awaiting the Majority side of the House who have been conspicuously missing in the Chamber since morning. Members of Parliament from the governing New Patriotic Party have failed to show up for today’s sittings where the House is expected to conclude the debate on the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the government. When the Speaker entered the Chamber on Friday, December 25, 2021, at about 16 minutes past 1PM, it was only the Minority MPs who had filled the House whiles the Majority side of the aisle was completely empty. The Speaker decided to suspend sitting after the Deputy Minority Whip, Ibrahim Ahmmed, raised the issue of the absence of the Majority leadership in the House even though they were together in a meeting within the precincts of Parliament. The Speaker further informed the House that he had ‘heard’ that the Majority MPs were at a Caucus meeting even though he had not been formally informed. Until the House resumes in full, the fate of the 2022 ‘Agyenkwa’ budget will hang in the balance. It’s 2:30PM at the time of filing this report and Parliament is still suspended. —Clement Akoloh II parliamentnews360 Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
NPP Asabee asked to leave office (SIGA) before …
Information available to gathered has it that the immediate-past Director-General of the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), Stephen Asamoah-Boateng had no option than to leave office before 17th December 2021. News of Mr. Asamoah Boateng’s resignation dominated the media space on November 22, 2021, as it was reported he quit to enable him to focus on his campaign to be elected the National Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP). He was applauded by many political watchers, while other political appointees who have an interest in contesting for party political position were urged to learn from Mr Asamoah Boateng’s shining example. However, documents available to this portal shows that President Akufo Addo through a letter issued by the Chief of Staff, Frema Osei Opare to Mr Asamoah Boateng stated clearly that the latter would not have any further extension of his contract after the 17th December 2021 because SIGA will be undergoing reorganization. President Akufo-Addo has appointed Ambassador Edward Boateng as the new Director-General of SIGA and his appointment is to take effect on 18th December, 2021. Asabee as he’s popularly called had had his contract earlier extended for a period of three months from June to September 2021. Mr Asamoah Boateng announced his interest in running for the position of national chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in September 2021. Political pundits say the experienced politician is no doubt a very formidable candidate to win the National Chairmanship position. Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Treat Clement Apaak’s comment as a pure lie, no one has asked him not to approve the 2022 budget—Builsa South DCE
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Builsa Kwaeme Daniel Gariba has refuted what he described as a ‘pure lie’ claim chanting by Dr. Clement Abasinaab Apaak Member of Parliament for Builsa South. Apexnewsgh.com According to Clement Abasinaab Apaak, his constituents have instructed him to vote against the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy proposal or risk not coming back home. A warning he said he received with much seriousness “My constituents have told me that should I make the mistake of voting in favor of this 2022 budget I should remain in Accra. “I will not remain in Accra, they sent me here to work on their behalf. Their instructions are very clear and so the position is clear. We represent our people and we are going to do what they want,” Clement Apaak said on the floor of parliament on Thursday during a debate of the 2022 budget. Meanwhile, the Builsa South District Chief Executive Daniel Gariba has called on Ghanaians to disregard the claims made by the MP. He described Dr. Apaak’s comments as a ‘pure lie’ “He is not even in the constituency and I am there with the people. You cannot read a budget and want to get everybody to agree with every sentence, every phrase. You would definitely have dissenting opinions. But largely, what the majority says is what to look at”. “The last time my MP was in the constituency is more than 2weeks, he was there before the budget was read, so I don’t know when he came back to receive views of the people. He has not organized one single meeting where he has had an engagement with the people in the constituency. So, I don’t know where he is getting that information from”. “So, as far as am concerned, is not true, he has not had any meeting anywhere where constituents have told him not to come back home if he approves the budget. It is his personal view he is expressing and which is not too different from the position taken by his NDC. I am a constituent of his and am not sure I have told him not to come home if he approves the budget, I also have people around me who are his constituents who have not say so”. Mr. Gariba said Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
NDC will never scrap E- Levy when they returns to power after 60 years–John Boadu
John Boadu, General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is confident that the Electronic Transactions Levy is going to be a done deal. He said just like the Communications Service Tax, popularly known as Talk Tax, innovative ways will be found in making deductions for the e-levy without unduly disadvantaging Ghanaians. Mr. Boadu the pronouncement in the Ashanti Region on Thursday, November 25, when addressing news men. “When Talk Tax came, we were all paying but we didn’t notice,” he said in local language Twi. “That’s a very innovative way of raising revenue [that] when the NDC came back to power in 2009, they did not remove the Talk Tax. “So, I believe may be in future about 60 years time when the NDC returns, they will never scrap the e-levy. They will embrace it. They will be so happy. The only difference is that they cannot think like we do.” Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
#FixTheCountry demo against 2022 budget, ‘killer’ taxes today
Members of the Economic fighter’s league and Fix The Country Movement as well as some Ghanaians will today, Friday, 26 November 2021 march to parliament in a move to compel the House to reject the 2022 budget. The demonstration is to express their grievances about the tax increases and introduction of new taxes especially the e-levy in the 2022 budget. The e-levy, which is a 1.75 per cent tax on all e-transactions which include banking and mobile money transactions has infuriated many Ghanaians who are kicking against its implementation. The Accra Regional Police Command says it has made adequate security arrangements for the demonstration. The demonstrators will assemble at Tema Station near the Hockey Pitch and move through Accra Technical University towards Trade Union Congress Traffic Light, through Cedi House, through National Theatre Traffic Light to AU Roundabout and finally end at the Parliament House. Taking into account the traffic situation, personnel from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) according to the Police will be present to ensure the free flow of traffic. The Police also noted it is resolute to collaborate with the demonstrators towards a peaceful demonstration. However, organisers and demonstrators have been entreated to observe all COVID-19 protocols and cooperate with the Police for a successful event. —classfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
As for me, I think it should be reduced for ease of calculation–Nana Akomea
The 1.75% E-levy spelled out in the 2022 budget statement by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has generated a whole lot of controversies among the Ghanaian public since after the announcement. According to the government, the budget when approved will cover mobile money transactions, bank transfers, merchant payments, others. Speaking on this matter in a panel discussion on Peace FM’s morning show ‘Kokrokoo’ monitored by Apexnewsgh.com, a member of the governing party Nana Akomea said “the budget is yet to be approved and discussions are still ongoing…the 1.75% is not cast in stone…it’s possible it can be adjusted, but as for me ‘I think it should be reduced for ease of calculation’.” Meanwhile, he urged the government to be responsible and accountable because “Ghanaians will have no trouble paying any amount; once they know what the monies are being used for”. He pointed Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093