2023 budget approved by Parliament

The House approved the budget on Tuesday, December 6, despite opposition from the Minority caucus on revenue mobilization measures.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Minority group in Parliament opposed for example the removal of a threshold on the Electronic Transaction Levy and a 2.5% increase in VAT.

“Mr. Speaker without going further we in the NDC minority group will fiercely resist and fight the imposition of this additional tax on Ghanaians and Ghanaian businesses because Mr. Speaker it will only exacerbate and increase the hardship they’re already going through, will increase the cost of doing business for many Ghanaians, and it will make it difficult for ordinary Ghanaians to cope,” Haruna Iddrisu, the Minority Leader said.

But in a swift rebuttal, the majority leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the 2.5% increase in VAT will go into the construction of roads.

“About 25% of questions that are asked in this Chamber relate to Roads. Some roads have begun and the intention is to ensure that they don’t deteriorate, they’re not left unattended to, so the 2.5% increase in VAT we have been told primarily is going to be used for road construction. If you don’t want your roads to be constructed, tell us that you don’t want your roads to be constructed,” he said.

The House has been debating the statement since November 29, after it was presented by the Finance Minister.

The approval paves the way for estimates for ministries, departments, and agencies, (MDAs) to be referred to the various committees for scrutiny.