Once again, the Minority Group in Ghana’s Parliament has forced the ruling New Patriotic Party Government led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, to reluctantly drop the Eighty Million Ghana Cedis (GHC80,000,000.00) earmarked for the construction of the controversial National Cathedral in the 2023 Fiscal year.
This amount was captured as part of the Budget of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture which comes up to a total amount of Two Hundred and Sixty Million, Nine Hundred and Forty-Eight Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixty-One Ghana Cedis (GHC260,948,961.00) allocated.
After the House has been subjected to a long debate in the consideration of the Budget of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture about the pros and cons of the construction of the Cathedral, which ate deep into midnight on Thursday, December 22, 2022, the Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin announced to the House that Government has decided to redirect the funds into roads and communication.
This announcement followed a veiled threat issued by the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, to the effect that, his side was not going to support the allocation to the National Cathedral and if they are forced to take a vote on it, the Majority should be prepared to take a vote on every other item in the House including the Appropriation Bill.
The Minority issued this calculated threat knowing very well that, the Majority Group did not have the full pack of the 137 MPs on their side. Aside that, some 80 MPs on the side of the Majority side had informally passed a vote of no confidence on the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta and called on the President to withdraw his appointment. They served notice not to support the work of Government if their request is not heeded to.
Already at the Committee level, Members took a vote to support the inclusion or otherwise of the GHC80,000,000 in the budget of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
According to the Committee report, “The Majority Members present voted to exclude the Eighty Million Ghana Cedis (GHC80,000,000.00) out of the Two Hundred and Sixty Million, Nine Hundred and Forty-Eight Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixty-One Ghana Cedis (GHC260,948,961.00).”
The House finally approved an amount of One Hundred and Eighty Million, Nine Hundred and Forty-Eight Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixty-One Ghana Cedis (GHC180,948,961) for the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture for the 2023 Financial year.
Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com
