How Does Engaging Traders After Budget Had Been Approved By Cabinet Change Anything?- Krobea Asks
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Personal aide to former Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, Krobea Kwabena Asante, has raised concerns over Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson’s decision to engage market women on their expectations of the national budget after it had already been approved by Cabinet.
In a reaction to the move, Krobea Kwabena Asante noted that while similar engagements had been done in the past, the timing of Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson’s initiative was questionable. “Cabinet on Thursday approved the proposed budget statement for reading on 11 March. So how is his engagement with traders today going to address their concerns as he puts it?he questioned.
He argued that such consultations should have been conducted before Cabinet’s approval to ensure that traders’ input were considered in shaping the budget. “He should have done this before Cabinet’s approval. Unless he just wanted to preempt traders on what to expect,” he added.
While comparing Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson’s approach to the community engagement to that of former Finance Minister Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu under former President John Agyekum Kufour, Krobea Kwabena Asante pointed out that Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu carried out similar engagements weeks before major financial decisions were made, making his initiative the best way to go about it.
“Good Hon. Ato Forson is replicating what Hon Baah Wiredu as Finance Minister did under President Kufuor however the latter did such engagements weeks before the approval of the Financial statements or major decisions by Cabinet for onward reading in Parliament.” He wrote.
The timing of Dr. Ato Forson’s engagement has sparked debate on whether the consultation was genuinely aimed at addressing market women’s concerns or was simply a formality to score a political point.
Source: Krobea Kwabena Asante’s comment on Finance Minister’s engagement