IMF talks to stall 2023 budget presentation – Osei Kyei Mensa-Bonsu
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Government Business, Osei Kyei Mensa-Bonsu, has said the 2023 Budget Statement may not be read on November 15, 2022 as scheduled.
Making the disclosure on the floor of Parliament, Hon. Kyei Mensa-Bonsu noted the possible delay in the presentation of the 2023 Budget Statement is due to the ongoing negotiations between the IMF and government.
The Public Financial Management Act mandates that the budget is presented next two weeks.
However, as negotiations between the Finance Minister and the Fund for a bailout continue, the deadline now appears improbable.
Speaking to journalists, Hon Osei Kyei Mensa-Bonsu said a team from the IMF is expected in the country next week for further talks.
“But if you want to do tidy work, you may be required to have some space to be able to do a tidy job. Because as you all know, these are not normal times,” he said in an interview on Thursday, November 3.
For him, the circumstances surrounding the IMF deal may place too much pressure on the process if the House is to go ahead with the stipulated date.
“Nothing should be done which will eventually become wishy-washy. They want to have the best to be able to uplift us from where we are as a country. And that being the case, if we want to do a thorough job, I think there will be too much pressure if it has to be done on the 15th.”
This means it is highly unlikely that the budget will come by the stipulated time.
He posited that this action will not be in breach of the procedure because the constitution provides November 30 as the deadline for the statement.
“We want more time to interrogate the principles underpinning the budget,” he said.
The legislator however noted that he will consult the Finance Minister on the possible new date and revert with a communique on whatever conclusion is reached.
