A former legislator, Fuseini Issah, has called on Ghanaians to be patient with the 2023 budget and the new policies announced in them.
While he believes the budget largely meets the needs of Ghanaians, Mr. Issah assured that the government would be open to feedback on its new policies.
“You try to implement it [policy], you get feedback, you put the feedback into the system until you perfect the policy,” the former MP said on The Big Issue on Citi TV.
“It is not the case that every policy, right on the onset, we are going to get right. It is a process, but what we need to do is put in the feedback and perfect the policies over time.”
“So these are really evolving things that we should be looking at as a nation,” Mr. Issah added.
Among the new policies proposed in the budget, which is likely to be implemented under an IMF programme, will be a freeze on public sector employment and new tax measures as the government moves to cut down expenditure and boost revenue.
Among the notable proposals, the Electronic Transfer Levy headline rate is to be reduced to 1 percent, Value Added Tax will be increased from 12.5 percent to 15 percent, the benchmark discount policy is to be fully phased out in 2023 and an additional income tax bracket of 35 percent is to be introduced.
According to him, the embattled MP will be back whenParliament reconvenes to serve the people of Dome Kwabenya.
“As we speak, the Honourable Member of Parliament [for Dome Kwabenya] is not in the country, she has gone back to the States and will be back in the country when Parliament reconvenes,” Nana Dubin said in a Joy FM interview on Tuesday, August 16.
Sarah Adwoa Safo was reported to have returned to the country before Parliament went on recess on July 28, 2022.
A recent Facebook post by the dismissed Gender Minister left many wondering whether she is returning to the country or not.
Sharing photos of herself in what appeared to be a private jet while looking excited with a cheerful smile, the MP quoted Psalm 23:5 in her caption, “You prepare a table before me, in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.â€
Political witch hunt
The legislatorearlier opened up about the ordeal she is facing in the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
According to her, she has become a victim of a sustained political witch hunt by certain elements in the NPP and in Parliament for their own parochial goals.
She expressed shock about how she is being treated differently by people, including members of her party for staying away from official duty in order to attend to personal issues involving her child.
She said she had sacrificed a lot including her family for NPP but she is now being described as a traitor, “and there are schemes to oust me from my position as MP and Minister.â€
Dismissal from Office as a minister of state
President Akufo-Addo relieved the MP of her ministerial position after staying outside the country for nearly a year amid calls from critics to get her axed.
A letter signed by Eugene Arhin, Director of Communications at the Presidency said, the decision by the President to act on these calls on July 28, was “in accordance with Article 81(a) of the Constitution, the President of the Republic, Akufo-Addo, has revoked the appointment of Hon Sarah Adwoa Safo, Member of Parliament for Dome Kwabenya, as Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, with immediate effect.”
Constitutional provision
Article 81 of the 1992 Constitution stipulates that the office of a Minister of State or a Deputy Minister shall become vacant if
(a) his appointment is revoked by the President; or
(b) he is elected as Speaker or Deputy Speaker; or