LIVE UPDATES: Finance Minister presents 2019 Mid-year review budget

The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta is expected to be in Parliament today to present to the House, a review of Ghana’s 2019 budget.

The presentation of the mid-year budget review is in accordance with Section 28 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921).

Ahead of the presentation, some Ghanaians including the Minority in Parliament have urged government to scrap the luxury vehicle tax and to introduce policies to cushion Ghanaians from economic hardships.

There are also conversations on a propose electricity price increase following a comment by Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a close associate of the President, who says “this year alone $1 billion extra will be spent by the state to support the cost of keeping your lights on. Imagine what that can do.”

Reacting to the remark, the Minority Spokesperson on Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson in a post said: “my colleagues and I on our side in Parliament will do all we can to oppose these unfair increases and I call on you the good people of this country to reject these unfair, draconian increases in taxes.”

There are also indications Ken Ofori-Atta will seek Parliament’s approval to spend more. A statement from the Finance Ministry reveals that this year’s presentation “will see an upward revision of the 2019 appropriation ceiling and its underlying measures, in order to achieve the objectives of the 2019 budget theme of expanding the economy and increasing jobs.”

Stay with us as we bring you a comprehensive text coverage of the presentation