John Dramani Mahama’s silence on the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy doesn’t seem good for the ruling party and the Akufo Addo government. Its obvious the debate as waged by the Minority in Parliament is just the sparkles of a blazing fire that he would cause when he takes his turn to dissert and critique the document.
It sounds like a perfect strategy to leave the early debates to his party people and parliamentarians of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) before he makes his entry into the discourse. By then, parliament might have received full detail of the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to inform his commentary.
John Mahama had already impressed on Ghanaians not to expect anything better from the Akufo Addo government and the ruling New Patriotic Party but hardship and deceit. This was the trump card of his Thank You tour and it was reiterated in the climax just recently.
Enough of a damage is being orchestrated by the Minority on issues regarding the imposition of some proposed taxes; thus the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-levy), and the revision of some others including rates for public fees. The irony as sung by the NDC is that, the government which promised to cushion the lives of Ghanaians by switching from taxation to production is now crusading for an increment and addition of taxable schemes.
Former President John Dramani Mahama could send the Akufo Addo government on its knees for a redemption with a public lecture or possible another tour on what could be said as a failed economic management of the economy he handed over to the NPP in 2017. Consistent with his argument, Mr Mahama had stressed that things were bound to improve given that his administration made significant investments and strategic decisions through the recovery programme that was facilitated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The hope of a brighter future amid the COVID-19 crisis is very shadowy. Should John Mahama make a pronouncement on the controversial 2022 budget, the public could sway to his support. As observed in Ghana, voters are easily persuaded by promises of easing their burdens when the are confronted with a formidable choice.
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