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	<title>2022 budget Archives - Sweet Melodies FM</title>
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	<title>2022 budget Archives - Sweet Melodies FM</title>
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		<title>Gov’t cuts down its expenditure by 20%</title>
		<link>https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/govt-cuts-down-its-expenditure-by-20/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Editor]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 21 Jan 2022 14:35:47 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2022 budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ken Ofori-Atta]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/?p=73355</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Government has suspended 20 percent of expenditure in the 2022 budget, the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori Atta, has said. Parliament has already approved government’s total expenditure for 2022, but government – in a prudent fiscal consolidation move – has decided to cut down its expenditure, by up to a whopping 20 percent. The Finance [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/govt-cuts-down-its-expenditure-by-20/">Gov’t cuts down its expenditure by 20%</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com">Sweet Melodies FM</a>.</p>
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										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Government has suspended 20 percent of expenditure in the 2022 budget, the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori Atta, has said.</strong></p>
<p>Parliament has already approved government’s total expenditure for 2022, but government – in a prudent fiscal consolidation move – has decided to cut down its expenditure, by up to a whopping 20 percent.</p>
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<p>The Finance Minister said the expenditure management by government is expected to continue from this year and beyond, amid the global impact of COVID-19 on economies.</p>
<p>“To ensure that government matches all expenditure to revenue inflows, all expenditure commitments in 2022 will be adjusted to match revenue collection,” he stated.</p>
<p>He said: “Therefore, in accordance with Section 25 of the Public Financial Management Act (PFMA) law, the quarterly expenditure ceilings of the approved budget will include up to a 20 percent downward adjustment, beginning in the first quarter of 2022. This is in commitments across the board for all covered entities benefitting from the 2022 budget, subject to revenue performance”.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/creating-partnerships-key-to-achieving-afcfta-ken-ofori-atta/">Creating partnerships, key to achieving AfCFTA-Ken Ofori-Atta</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/shipping-cost-hampering-sme-sector-ofori-atta/">Shipping cost hampering SME sector – Ofori Atta</a></li>
</ul>
<p>The minister said this means that Ghana’s fiscal consolidation agenda is going to be primarily driven by the expenditure side with support from additional revenue. In this regard, projected revenues in the 2022 budget will only be spent when they materialise.</p>
<p>Following the pandemic’s impact on the economy, the latest bold step adds to government’s announced fiscal consolidation strategies which include a focus on more internal revenue generation.</p>
<p>Government’s projected expenditure for 2022, which has already been approved by Parliament, was GH¢135.6billion.</p>
<p>The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori Att,a announced this during a media briefing on Wednesday.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/govt-cuts-down-its-expenditure-by-20/">Gov’t cuts down its expenditure by 20%</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com">Sweet Melodies FM</a>.</p>
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		<title>&#8216;Ghanaians voted for you to engage in dialogue, not boxing,&#8217; &#8211; Christian Council to MPs</title>
		<link>https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/ghanaians-voted-for-you-to-engage-in-dialogue-not-boxing-christian-council-to-mps/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Editor]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Dec 2021 10:29:40 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2022 budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christian Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parliament]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/?p=72669</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>The Christian Council of Ghana wants parliament to take urgent steps towards building consensus on the 2022 budget and ensure that steps are taken to prevent chaos in Parliament in future. This follows the brawl that was witnessed in parliament on Monday night during voting on the controversial E-levy bill. The Christian Council in a [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/ghanaians-voted-for-you-to-engage-in-dialogue-not-boxing-christian-council-to-mps/">&#8216;Ghanaians voted for you to engage in dialogue, not boxing,&#8217; &#8211; Christian Council to MPs</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com">Sweet Melodies FM</a>.</p>
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										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>The Christian Council of Ghana wants parliament to take urgent steps towards building consensus on the 2022 budget and ensure that steps are taken to prevent chaos in Parliament in future.</strong></p>
<p>This follows the brawl that was witnessed in parliament on Monday night during voting on the controversial E-levy bill.</p>
<p>The Christian Council in a statement said it is “deeply concerned” about the conduct of the legislators in recent times and believe that such behaviors must not be allowed to continue especially due to the impact on the respect and dignity of the country.”</p>
<p>They said the incident is unacceptable and condemnable.</p>
<p>“We respectfully remind parliamentarians that debates in Parliament must remain a platform for the exchange of ideas and not an opportunity for confusion and hostility. Ghanaians voted for you to engage in “debate not boxing,” the Christian Council said in a statement.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/parliament-adopts-revisions-to-2022-budget-despite-minority-protest/">Parliament adopts revisions to 2022 budget despite Minority protest</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/parliament-constitutes-bipartisan-committee-to-resolve-disagreements-over-2022-budget/">Parliament constitutes bipartisan committee to resolve disagreements over 2022 budget</a></li>
</ul>
<p>The Christian Council expressed regret that the exchange of fisticuffs as seen in parliament erodes the country’s democratic gains over the past three decades and completely at variance with the expectation of legislators to deepen democracy.</p>
<p>“Our country’s lawmakers must show the way to protect and deepen democratic processes in our governance system. Unfortunately, what we saw in Parliament is a negation of Ghana’s democratic gains over the past thirty years,” the Christian Council noted.</p>
<p>It stressed that there is the need for consensus to be built to prevent future occurrences.</p>
<p>“We therefore urge Parliament to as a matter of urgency build consensus to ensure that the nation has a budget to work with in 2022. We also urge the leadership of Parliament to put measures in place to prevent any future incidence of mayhem,” they added.</p>
<h4><strong>Read the full statement below:</strong></h4>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Christian-Council-on-Parliament-1583x2048-1.jpg"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="alignnone  wp-image-72675" src="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Christian-Council-on-Parliament-1583x2048-1-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="745" height="745" /></a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/ghanaians-voted-for-you-to-engage-in-dialogue-not-boxing-christian-council-to-mps/">&#8216;Ghanaians voted for you to engage in dialogue, not boxing,&#8217; &#8211; Christian Council to MPs</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com">Sweet Melodies FM</a>.</p>
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		<title>2022 budget, government prioritizes the purchase of new buses for Metro Mass.</title>
		<link>https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/2022-budget-government-prioritizes-the-purchase-of-new-buses-for-metro-mass/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Editor]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Dec 2021 12:26:05 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2022 budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Metro Mass]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/?p=72575</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>The Government of Ghana has prioritized revamping the Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMTL) with the acquisition of new buses in its 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy. The move was captured in the budget estimates of the Ministry of Transport, the sector Ministry under which MMTL operates as an Agency. At a plenary sitting on [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/2022-budget-government-prioritizes-the-purchase-of-new-buses-for-metro-mass/">2022 budget, government prioritizes the purchase of new buses for Metro Mass.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com">Sweet Melodies FM</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>The Government of Ghana has prioritized revamping the Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMTL) with the acquisition of new buses in its 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy.</strong></p>
<p>The move was captured in the budget estimates of the Ministry of Transport, the sector Ministry under which MMTL operates as an Agency.</p>
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<p>At a plenary sitting on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, an estimated budgetary allocation of GH₵921,843,000.00 was approved for the Ministry of Transport and its sub-vented Agencies to execute their programs and projects for the 2022 fiscal year.</p>
<p>Out of the amount approved, GH₵694,351,000 will be used by the Transport Ministry to finance assets where it is projected that hundreds of new buses will be procured to revamp MMTL and other private sector operators.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/metro-mass-gets-50-new-buses/">Metro Mass Gets 50 New Buses</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/2022-budget-approved-to-prevent-unnecessary-obstruction-of-govt-business-npp-mp/">2022 budget approved to prevent unnecessary obstruction of gov’t business – NPP MP</a></li>
</ul>
<p>A deputy Minister of Transport, Hon. Hassan Tampuli, who moved the motion on behalf of the sector Minister, Hon. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, for the approval of the Transport Ministry’s budget estimates amounting to GH₵921,843,000.00 told Parliament that the move by government will help “improve transportation services in the country”.</p>
<p>The remaining amount, he noted, will be used to finance goods and services and to pay compensation among others.</p>
<p>It is not clear the number of buses government intends to procure to revamp the public-private transporter.</p>
<p>However, in September, 2021, the Managing Director of Metro Mass Transit Limited, Mr. Albert Adu Boahen, told journalists that his outfit expects to receive 300 fleet of buses by the end of the first quarter of 2022 to revamp its operations.</p>
<p>He said in order for MMTL to operate at optimal level and improve on its profit, the 200 fleet of buses currently in operation needs to be increased to over 900.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/2022-budget-government-prioritizes-the-purchase-of-new-buses-for-metro-mass/">2022 budget, government prioritizes the purchase of new buses for Metro Mass.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com">Sweet Melodies FM</a>.</p>
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		<title>Bagbin requests Finance Minister to present revised budget to Parliament.</title>
		<link>https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/bagbin-requests-finance-minister-to-present-revised-budget-to-parliament/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Editor]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Dec 2021 22:46:21 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2022 budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ken Ofori-Atta]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mr Alban Bagbin]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/?p=72548</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>The Speaker of Parliament wants the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, to present a revised version of the 2022 budget to Parliament. Addressing Parliament on Thursday, the Speaker, Alban Bagbin, stressed that the revisions captured in a letter presented to him by the Finance Minister were only “indications of intent” and must be formalized. He thus [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/bagbin-requests-finance-minister-to-present-revised-budget-to-parliament/">Bagbin requests Finance Minister to present revised budget to Parliament.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com">Sweet Melodies FM</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>The Speaker of Parliament wants the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, to present a revised version of the 2022 budget to Parliament.</strong></p>
<p>Addressing Parliament on Thursday, the Speaker, Alban Bagbin, stressed that the revisions captured in a letter presented to him by the Finance Minister were only “indications of intent” and must be formalized.</p>
<p>He thus said the Finance Minister needed to come to Parliament “with those modifications, concessions or amendments specifically captured in the documents to make them known” so the House could officially accept them.</p>
<p>Mr. Bagbin said it was important to find a “path that is faithful to law, respects our rules and processes and ensures the governance of the country does not grind to a halt.”</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/ill-not-be-the-executives-errand-boy-nor-will-i-obstruct-government-business-bagbin/">I&#8217;ll not be the Executive&#8217;s errand boy, nor will I obstruct government business – Bagbin</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/stop-politicising-bagbins-health-speaker-of-parliaments-office/">Stop politicising Bagbin’s health – Speaker of Parliament’s Office</a></li>
</ul>
<p>“Those modifications, amendments and concessions will then be adopted by the House and the revised documents in the estimates will stand committed to the various committees of Parliament,” Mr. Bagbin explained.</p>
<p>Though various committees in Parliament have begun considering estimates from the initial budget presented by the Finance Minister, Mr. Bagbin tasked the committees to “reconcile the revised estimates with what they have hitherto considered and submit a report for the consideration of the House.”</p>
<p>As an example of why this was necessary, Mr. Bagbin cited government’s intent to allocate GH¢10 million for feasibility studies for the Blekusu sea defence project.</p>
<p>“That GH¢10 million will definitely be taken from another item that has been captured in what has been presented,” he surmised.</p>
<p>The revisions made by the government were in response to the Minority’s call for the suspension of the Electronic Transaction Levy, the removal of suggestions of the Agyapa deal from the budget, rewording of the paragraph on the Aker Energy deal, action on the coastal erosion and a review of the benchmark import values.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/bagbin-requests-finance-minister-to-present-revised-budget-to-parliament/">Bagbin requests Finance Minister to present revised budget to Parliament.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com">Sweet Melodies FM</a>.</p>
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		<title>Muntaka justifies Minority participation in budget approval</title>
		<link>https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/muntaka-justifies-minority-participation-in-budget-approval/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Editor]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Dec 2021 19:53:07 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2022 budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MINORITY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mubarak Muntaka]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/?p=72458</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>The Minority Chief Whip, Mubarak Muntaka, has justified his side’s decision to partake in approval of the 2022 budget estimates despite their unwavering position against the approved 2022 fiscal policy document. “We are participating and holding their legs close to the fire to make sure they account for every pesewa that was approved in 2021,” [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/muntaka-justifies-minority-participation-in-budget-approval/">Muntaka justifies Minority participation in budget approval</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com">Sweet Melodies FM</a>.</p>
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										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>The Minority Chief Whip, Mubarak Muntaka, has justified his side’s decision to partake in approval of the 2022 budget estimates despite their unwavering position against the approved 2022 fiscal policy document.</strong></p>
<p>“We are participating and holding their legs close to the fire to make sure they account for every pesewa that was approved in 2021,” he said in a Citi News interview.</p>
<p>“We do not want this thing to stand uncontested and exhaustive because when you allow it to stay, it becomes part of the rules of the House. A lot of the ministries are already sweating. If people can choose to spend GH¢32 million on conferences during COVID, they will have to provide details. Our bid is that we are holding government to account for his stewardship. We are saying that we will not allow you to waste our resources. If you want to do anything, use the right procedure,” Mr. Muntaka added.</p>
<p>The Minority has been against the 2022  budget over the proposed 1.75% electronic transaction levy, among others.</p>
<p>The Minority earlier rejected the 2022 budget, but that decision was overturned by the Majority side on December 1, 2021.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/my-ruling-on-minoritys-motion-for-rescission-of-2022-budget-approval-was-conclusive-joe-wise/">My ruling on Minority’s motion for rescission of 2022 budget approval was conclusive – Joe wise</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/scrap-e-levy-entirely-well-not-accept-it-in-any-form-minority-to-government/">Scrap E-levy entirely, we’ll not accept it in any form – Minority to government</a></li>
</ul>
<p>Several efforts by the Minority to have Parliament rescind the approval of the budget document have been unfruitful.</p>
<p>Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu has served notice of pursuing a motion he filed to get Parliament to reject the budget, but was unsuccessful, when the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, returns from his medical trip.</p>
<p>Mr. Muntaka explained that, the Minority is taking such a decision because, when an issue occurs in the House “and it is allowed to stay [without a challenge], it becomes a precedent”.</p>
<p>The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, filed a motion to challenge the First Deputy Speaker’s ruling rejecting his earlier motion seeking to reverse the approval of the 2022 budget, which was done after a boycott of Minority MPs.</p>
<p>The Minority felt the reversal of the rejection of the budget by the First Deputy Speaker was informed by bias.</p>
<p>According to the Minority Leader, the December 1 ruling “contravenes the Rules, Conventions and Practices of the House and was actuated by bias.”</p>
<p>Parliament on December 1, 2021, approved the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of government in the absence of Minority MPs.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/muntaka-justifies-minority-participation-in-budget-approval/">Muntaka justifies Minority participation in budget approval</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com">Sweet Melodies FM</a>.</p>
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		<title>My ruling on Minority’s motion for rescission of 2022 budget approval was conclusive – Joe wise</title>
		<link>https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/my-ruling-on-minoritys-motion-for-rescission-of-2022-budget-approval-was-conclusive-joe-wise/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Editor]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Dec 2021 12:13:48 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2022 budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Joseph Osei-Owusu]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MINORITY]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/?p=72299</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu, insists that his ruling that the Minority’s request for the approval of the 2022 budget on Tuesday, November 30, 2021, be set aside was clear and conclusive. His comments followed some remarks by Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu in Parliament on Tuesday, December 7, 2021, suggesting that he [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/my-ruling-on-minoritys-motion-for-rescission-of-2022-budget-approval-was-conclusive-joe-wise/">My ruling on Minority’s motion for rescission of 2022 budget approval was conclusive – Joe wise</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com">Sweet Melodies FM</a>.</p>
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										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu, insists that his ruling that the Minority’s request for the approval of the 2022 budget on Tuesday, November 30, 2021, be set aside was clear and conclusive.</strong></p>
<p>His comments followed some remarks by Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu in Parliament on Tuesday, December 7, 2021, suggesting that he [the Speaker] did not make a clear directive on the Minority’s motion for a rescission of the approved 2022 budget on December 1, 2021.</p>
<p>“We know that reference to the constitution and standing order must at all times be reflected so I had a difficulty with the directive that you gave because as far as I was concerned, I moved a motion, the motion was seconded by the Honourable Mahama Ayariga when the debate concluded. After the conclusion of the debate, yours is simply to put a question to us, nothing more.”</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/joe-wise-rejects-minoritys-claims-of-bias-says-he-tries-to-be-fair-when-presiding/">Joe Wise rejects Minority’s claims of bias; says he tries to be fair when presiding</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/govt-modifies-2022-budget/">Gov’t modifies 2022 budget</a></li>
</ul>
<p>“More importantly, the decision of this house is not centered on someone’s imagined majority. It is about members present and available and they voting. Therefore I have difficulty with the directive you gave.”</p>
<p>He thus called on the Speaker to come clear on his earlier ruling “so we will know what step to take.”</p>
<p>Responding to this, the First Deputy Speaker said “whether or not the Minority thinks I was not entitled to rule is another matter. My point is I ruled. My ruling was interrupted and so it appears as though I did not. But my ruling did conclude and the records are available to prove that.”</p>
<p>Responding to this, the Minority Leader said he will report the First Deputy Speaker’s conduct “because he cannot operate the standing orders at his whims and caprices.”</p>
<p>Meanwhile, in his ruling on some revisions to the 2022 budget statement made by the Finance Minister, Joseph Osei-Owusu directed that the statement of modification presented by the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta be attached to the budget statement presented to the house on November 17 despite the Minority’s protest.</p>
<p>Among the revisions made by the Finance Minister, were the GHS 10 million allocated for feasibility studies on the Keta sea defence project, revision of Aker Energy-AGM Petroleum-GNPC deal, Agyapa from the budget among others.</p>
<h4><strong>Background</strong></h4>
<p>On Wednesday, December 1, 2021, the Minority moved a motion requesting that, the approval of the 2022 budget should be set aside.</p>
<p>The caucus maintained that processes used for approving the budget were in violation of the Standing Orders of Parliament and the 1992 Constitution. But the Majority Caucus disagreed.</p>
<p>However, after a lengthy debate on the motion, the First Speaker, Joe Osei-Owusu, in his ruling explained that per the Constitution and the Standing Orders of the House, he together with the Second Deputy Speaker are members of Parliament but only to assist the Speaker of Parliament when the need arises.</p>
<p>He insisted that he was therefore not wrong in associating himself with the Majority side to approve the 2022 budget despite sitting in as the Speaker and thus shot down the Minority’s request.</p>
<p>“I am a member of Parliament the Second Deputy Speaker is also an MP and our role is to assist the Speaker in managing the house. So any attempts to read and interpret the constitution to include the deputy speakers is a misreading,” he said.</p>
<p>Shortly after this, the Minority held a media briefing, registering its displeasure over the turn of events.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/my-ruling-on-minoritys-motion-for-rescission-of-2022-budget-approval-was-conclusive-joe-wise/">My ruling on Minority’s motion for rescission of 2022 budget approval was conclusive – Joe wise</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com">Sweet Melodies FM</a>.</p>
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		<title>Members of Justice for Ghana converge for planned picketing against 2022 budget</title>
		<link>https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/members-of-justice-for-ghana-converge-for-planned-picketing-against-2022-budget/</link>
		
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		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Dec 2021 11:50:45 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2022 budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Justice for Ghana]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/?p=72286</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Members of Pressure Group, Justice for Ghana, have converged on the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park for their planned protest against the 2022 budget. The protesters had planned to end the exercise by picketing at Parliament House. The picketing is aimed at putting pressure on Parliament to withdraw the 2022 budget which they say is not [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/members-of-justice-for-ghana-converge-for-planned-picketing-against-2022-budget/">Members of Justice for Ghana converge for planned picketing against 2022 budget</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com">Sweet Melodies FM</a>.</p>
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										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Members of Pressure Group, Justice for Ghana, have converged on the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park for their planned protest against the 2022 budget.</strong></p>
<p>The protesters had planned to end the exercise by picketing at Parliament House.</p>
<p>The picketing is aimed at putting pressure on Parliament to withdraw the 2022 budget which they say is not in the interest of the country.</p>
<p>Conveners of the Justice for Ghana demonstration say they will not regard a restraining order on their picketing.</p>
<p>The police on Wednesday morning presented an injunction granted by a High Court in Accra ordering the protesters to use a route proposed by the police and not picket at Parliament after presenting the petition as planned.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/govt-modifies-2022-budget/">Gov’t modifies 2022 budget</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/2022-budget-anti-entrepreneurial-panders-to-foreign-investors-prof-bokpin/">2022 Budget anti-entrepreneurial, panders to foreign investors – Prof. Bokpin</a></li>
</ul>
<p>But the conveners say the police have exhibited bad faith with this move.</p>
<p>In an interview with Citi News, Convener for the group, Bernard Mornah indicated that nothing will stop his team from rejecting the e-levy proposed in the 2022 budget.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Demo-2.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="alignnone  wp-image-72290" src="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Demo-2-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="626" height="626" /></a></p>
<p>“We will enter Parliament. The police restraining order is a sham because we and the police agreed that we will start at Efua Sutherland park, and they are here, so why is the restraining order referencing Nkrumah Circle. Either the Police misled the court or they had forgotten that we had further agreed that we will start from here.”</p>
<p>Members of the group plan to pitch camp in Parliament until the budget is withdrawn.</p>
<p>According to the Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Iddi Lansah Seidu, the measure is aimed at foiling any threat to law and order.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/members-of-justice-for-ghana-converge-for-planned-picketing-against-2022-budget/">Members of Justice for Ghana converge for planned picketing against 2022 budget</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com">Sweet Melodies FM</a>.</p>
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		<title>Parliament adopts revisions to 2022 budget despite Minority protest</title>
		<link>https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/parliament-adopts-revisions-to-2022-budget-despite-minority-protest/</link>
		
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		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Dec 2021 20:48:40 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2022 budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ken Ofori-Atta]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parliament]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/?p=72247</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Parliament has adopted modifications to the 2022 budget statement and economic policy presented by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, despite opposition from the Minority in relation to the 1.75 percent e-Levy. The Minister in a letter to Parliament made some revisions such as the GHS 10 million allocated for feasibility studies on the Keta sea defence [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/parliament-adopts-revisions-to-2022-budget-despite-minority-protest/">Parliament adopts revisions to 2022 budget despite Minority protest</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com">Sweet Melodies FM</a>.</p>
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										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Parliament has adopted modifications to the 2022 budget statement and economic policy presented by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, despite opposition from the Minority in relation to the 1.75 percent e-Levy.</strong></p>
<p>The Minister in a letter to Parliament made some revisions such as the GHS 10 million allocated for feasibility studies on the Keta sea defence project, revision of Aker Energy-AGM Petroleum- GNPC deal, Agyapa from the budget among others.</p>
<p>In his ruling on Tuesday, December 7, 2021, Joseph Osei-Owusu, the First Deputy Speaker, sitting as the Speaker, directed that the statement of modification presented by the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta be attached to the budget statement presented to the house on 17th November.</p>
<p>Commenting on the modifications after a presentation on the Floor, the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, indicated that the Minority will shoot down the e-Levy  every time it surfaces on the floor of Parliament.</p>
<p>“It is true that we engaged. We were part of the engagement, but at that engagement, regrettably and unfortunately, on the matter of e-levy we could not have agreement and consensus.”</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/govt-modifies-2022-budget/">Gov’t modifies 2022 budget</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/parliament-constitutes-bipartisan-committee-to-resolve-disagreements-over-2022-budget/">Parliament constitutes bipartisan committee to resolve disagreements over 2022 budget</a></li>
</ul>
<p>“We believe that the e-levy is punitive, and will undermine our quest to grow a digital economy in seeking to tax transactions,” Mr. Iddrisu added.</p>
<p>As an alternative for revenue, the Minority Leader suggested a better commitment to retrieve misappropriated funds.</p>
<p>“We are guided by the public good, and we think that monies recoverable from the Auditor General’s report can as well compensate for the imposition of an e-levy.”</p>
<p>Among the changes made, the budget is being revised to amend the two paragraphs that contain references to the Agyapa deal, GH¢10 million has been allocated for a feasibility study for a sea defence wall project, and an amendment to reflect the resolution of Parliament in the Aker Energy deal.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/parliament-adopts-revisions-to-2022-budget-despite-minority-protest/">Parliament adopts revisions to 2022 budget despite Minority protest</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com">Sweet Melodies FM</a>.</p>
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		<title>Gov’t modifies 2022 budget</title>
		<link>https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/govt-modifies-2022-budget/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Editor]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Dec 2021 13:22:25 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2022 budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ken Ofori-Atta]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/?p=72210</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, indicates that government has officially written to parliament on modifications that has been made to the 2022 budget. According to the Minister, modifications have been made to four key issues out of the five raised by stakeholders including the Minority including Agyapa Royalties deal, tidal waves which rendered about 3,000 people [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/govt-modifies-2022-budget/">Gov’t modifies 2022 budget</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com">Sweet Melodies FM</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, indicates that government has officially written to parliament on modifications that has been made to the 2022 budget.</strong></p>
<p>According to the Minister, modifications have been made to four key issues out of the five raised by stakeholders including the Minority including Agyapa Royalties deal, tidal waves which rendered about 3,000 people homeless in Keta, Anlo and Ketu South constituencies, Aker Energy transaction, as well as the benchmark values. However, the modifications exclude the electronic levy.</p>
<p>This was made known during a press briefing to throw more light on the 2022 Annual Budget Statement as part of the Ministry’s post budget sensitisation activities.</p>
<p>Detailing the modifications in response to the emerging concerns by all stakeholders, the Minister said: “with regards to Agyapa Royalties Ltd, we shall amend paragraphs 442 and 443 to take out references to mineral royalties collateralisation. It is important to note that, any reference to Agyapa was for informational purposes, and as such was not reflected in the fiscal framework.”</p>
<p>Regarding the unfortunate tidal waves which rendered about 3,000 people homeless in some of the coastal towns in the Volta Region, the Minster indicated that government is making the necessary budgetary allocations of at least GH¢10 million to complete the feasibility and engineering studies for the coastal communities adversely affected.</p>
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<li><a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/parliament-constitutes-bipartisan-committee-to-resolve-disagreements-over-2022-budget/">Parliament constitutes bipartisan committee to resolve disagreements over 2022 budget</a></li>
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</ul>
<p>“We will broaden the scope of the study to consider a more comprehensive solution to protect Ghana’s 540 kilometre of coastline, including the 149 kilometres between Aflao and Prampram. Meanwhile, NADMO has responded to the humanitarian crisis created by the tidal waves on the Keta coastline,” he said.</p>
<p>Relating to the Aker Energy transaction, Mr. Ofori-Atta said sections of the 2022 budget has been modified to reflect the resolution of Parliament.</p>
<p>“We shall amend paragraph 829 of the 2022 Budget on the acquisition of a stake from Aker Energy and AGM Petroleum by GNPC, to reflect the resolution of Parliament dated July 6, 2021 that “the terms and conditions of the loan for the acquisition of the shares shall be brought to Parliament for consideration pursuant to article 181 of the Constitution,” he said.</p>
<p>On the benchmark values, the Minister noted that modifications are being made to avert any hardships to importers and consumers while safeguarding the interest of local manufacturing industries to secure and expand jobs for our people.</p>
<p>“This administrative exercise which reviewed 43 out of 81-line items, has the objective to promote local manufacturing and the One District, One Factory (1D1F) policy, including the assembling of vehicles,” Mr. Ofori-Atta noted.</p>
<p>He added that “it is important to note that this adjustment affects only 11.4% of the total CIF value, of which 50% is for vehicles. From our analysis, the potential increase in retail prices should be relatively insignificant and therefore inflation should be muted.”</p>
<p>He indicated that government would work with the relevant Committees of Parliament to reflect the modifications in the 2022 Budget as is the usual practice, before the Appropriation Bill is passed.</p>
<p>However, any other concerns which may emerge shall be addressed during the discussions of the estimates by the Committees, as has been the tradition. “On the matter of the E-levy, having regard to its serious fiscal implications, we will continue our consultations with the Minority Caucus in Parliament and other relevant stakeholders, with a view to achieving consensus and reverting to the House in the shortest possible time,” the Minster said.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/govt-modifies-2022-budget/">Gov’t modifies 2022 budget</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com">Sweet Melodies FM</a>.</p>
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		<title>Adwoa Safo arrived in Ghana on November 27 – Personal Assistant</title>
		<link>https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/adwoa-safo-arrived-in-ghana-on-november-27-personal-assistant/</link>
		
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		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Dec 2021 14:38:30 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2022 budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Adwoa Safo]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/?p=72050</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>A Personal Assistant (P.A) to the Member of Parliament for the Dome Kwabenya Constituency, Nana Reuben Kwapong, says the legislator returned to Ghana from outside the country on Saturday, November 27, 2021, before Parliament without the minority side approved the government’s 2022 budget statement on Tuesday, November 30. Speaking on the Point Blank segment of Eyewitness News on Wednesday, December 2, [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/adwoa-safo-arrived-in-ghana-on-november-27-personal-assistant/">Adwoa Safo arrived in Ghana on November 27 – Personal Assistant</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com">Sweet Melodies FM</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>A Personal Assistant (P.A) to the Member of Parliament for the Dome Kwabenya Constituency, Nana Reuben Kwapong, says the legislator returned to Ghana from outside the country on Saturday, November 27, 2021, before Parliament without the minority side approved the government’s 2022 budget statement on Tuesday, November 30.</strong></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Speaking on the Point Blank segment of Eyewitness News on Wednesday, December 2, 2021, Mr. Kwapong debunked allegations that an imposter turned up in her stead last Tuesday in order to ensure the Majority Caucus successfully overturned the rejection of the 2022 budget.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">“She [Adwoa Sarfo] was outside the country. She came back on </span><span class="s1">Saturday,”. Unable to state whether it </span><span class="s1">was Saturday dawn or morning, he said. “The </span><span class="s1">bottom line is she left the United States and got to </span>Ghana on Saturday [November 27]”.</p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">He also indicated that the Dome Kwabenya MP was in Parliament on Tuesday and only interacted with the Afigya Sekyere East MP, Mavis Nkansah-Boadu.</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="s1">“You can find out from Hon. Mavis Nkansah</span>, they were together in Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo’s Parliament office.”</p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">According to him, the MP did not participate in any </span><span class="s1">meetings on the day, and that to the best of his </span><span class="s1">knowledge, she moved from the office straight to </span>the Chamber.</p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">“She came straight from the house </span><span class="s1">to the office. She was there throughout till she </span><span class="s1">came into the chamber.”</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">But NDC Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, says his side is not convinced.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">He thinks there are so many inconsistencies with the account of the P.A.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">He is bent on getting to the button of the matter.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">“Very soon, we will put out all the details we know so far about the incident; which are very troubling. Very soon we will know and get to the bottom of the matter and Ghanaians will know the truth whether she was in the chamber or not. But safe to say, we are not convinced, so far the contradiction is one too many, and it is important to state that, this should not be reduced to womanhood or how to dress as a woman at all. It is a needless distortion. That is not the issue at all”, Mr. Ablakwa said.”</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">It emerged on Tuesday, November 30, 2021, that Sarah Adwoa Safo has been absent from Parliament for some time now following an extension of her leave which was granted by the President.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The allegations are that she was impersonated during the proceedings on Tuesday because the Majority side needed the numbers at all cost to approve the government’s 2022 budget, which they did despite the disapproval by the minority side.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The controversy was deepened by the fact that videos and photos of a woman believed not to be the Dome Kwabenya MP in Parliament went viral on social media.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">In the said viral video, the woman was seen wearing a nose mask, leaving the chamber right after the headcount which led to the approval of the budget statement.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">However, on Wednesday, Madam Sarah Adwoa Safo appearing with a different hairstyle did not wear a nose mask.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Adwoa Safo dismissed Okudzeto Ablakwa’s claims, saying “I cannot force Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa, who is my friend on the other side, to dress the way I want him to dress, that is an insult to womanhood so those making that noise should withdraw.”</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Shortly after her message in Parliament, the Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak, indicated that his side will establish the truth of the matter.</span></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com/adwoa-safo-arrived-in-ghana-on-november-27-personal-assistant/">Adwoa Safo arrived in Ghana on November 27 – Personal Assistant</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.sweetmelodiesfm.com">Sweet Melodies FM</a>.</p>
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