1. Rt. Hon. Speaker, Honourable Members of Parliament, on the authority of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, I beg to move that this Honourable House approves the Financial Policy of the Government of Ghana for the year ending 31st December 2017.
2.On the authority of the President, and in accordance with Article 179 of the 1992 Constitution, permit me to present to this august House, the maiden Budget of the President of the Republic of Ghana.
3. This presentation is an abridged version of the 2017 Budget Statement and I would like to request the Hansard Department to capture the entire Budget Statement and Economic policy
4. I also submit before this august House the following reports:
· The 2016 Annual Report on the Petroleum Funds, in accordance with Section 48 of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act, 2011 (Act 815), as amended;
·The 2016 Annual Debt Report, in accordance with Section 72 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921); and
·The 2016 Energy Sector Levies Report, in accordance with Section 6 of the Energy Sector Levies Act, 2015 (Act 899).
5.Mr. Speaker, let me first thank you and the house for approving my nomination as Finance Minister. My profound gratitude to both sides of the isle. Thanks for the dry run of 3 hours 45 minutes; I pray that I will be let off sooner this time.
Mr Speaker, I also stand here humbled by the President’s courage and confidence to elevate me to this very weighty and high office of Finance Minister of the Republic of Ghana, a nation with a manifest destiny for greatness, a nation with very high expectations for President Akufo-Addo’s government, a nation that is 60 years old, remains a diamond in the rough and therefore needs more than a shine.
6. Mr. Speaker, it is at this providential point in our history that I have been given this grave but exciting responsibility to participate in sending Ghana beyond aid and to realise our birth right as the Black Star of Africa. I, Mr. Speaker, accept this role with all the solemnity and reverence that it deserves.
7. Mr. Speaker, I would like to assure this house as I also did with the Finance Committee that I will work with members with utmost candour and respect. You are first and foremost the legislative[ES1] , the representatives of our people and I have been privileged to witness the sacrifices you have gone through to be here. Ayekoo.
Secondly, Mr. Speaker, I am standing in the rather large size shoes of a legacy of family members such as Dr. JB Danquah, Mr. William Ofori-Atta, Honourable Amoako-Atta, Dr. Jones Ofori-Atta (my father), President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Honourable Atta Akyea. I have, Mr. Speaker, been brought up to respect this house and I will also like to honour my forbears.
Finally Mr. Speaker, let me freely admit, that this battle ahead is indeed the Lord’s and I humbly confess before this august house and the nation, of my inability to accomplish this enormous task without the help and the leading of the Almighty; through Jesus Christ we can resolve these challenges and establish a righteous and just Society for all.
Click link below for FULL TEXT of the 2017 "ASEMPA" Budget Statement
<<Print>>