Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, Finance Minister of Ghana, has rescheduled the date for the presentation of the Mid-Year Review of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government and supplementary estimates for the 2023 Financial Year as some constituencies pile up the pressure on government to include several developmental projects into the mid-year budget.
The Finance Minister, meanwhile, postponed the address to Thursday, 27th July, 2023 instead of Tuesday, 25th July, 2023 as earlier announced. He cited the Grains Development Authority Bill, 2022, Ghana Industrial Property Office Bill, 2023, Rent Bill, 2023, Budget Bill, 2023, and the National Petroleum Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
He thus, urged all Committees of the House with referral Bills to expedite consideration on the same for the attention of the House. Consequently the Business Committee recommended that the House commenced sitting each day at 10:00 am and extended sittings to ensure that business scheduled for the eighth week.
Though many constituencies tabled their developmental projects that must be included in the mid-year budget, residents of Cape Coast Metropolis were in arms against the government, asking the government to redeem its promise to construct a Cargo Airport in the historic city of Cape Coast.
Ahead of the Mid- Year Budget Review slated for Thursday, July 27, the people of Cape Coast appealed for budgetary allocation to be made available in the Mid-Year Budget Review to ensure the eagerly anticipated project sees the light of day.
With focus on tourism and aviation excellence, the proposed facility would become Africa’s foremost centre for large- scale repair of aircraft and training of personnel to provide rapid response when disasters occur.
The move is in tandem with the government’s economic transformation agenda to give a strong boost to intra-Africa trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCTA).
The residents noted that the facility would boost tourism-related businesses and at the same time attract investment in industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics. It would also diversify the local economic activities leading to job creation, higher income levels, and improved standard of living.
The promise to construct an airport in the Region was made during the launch of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP’s) 2020 election manifesto in Cape Coast on Saturday, August 22, 2020.
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