The immediate past Ranking Member of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has questioned the decision of the President to delegate the reading of the 2021 budget to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu.

The Finance Minister-designate, Ken Ofori-Atta, has not been vetted yet due to health reasons and will be unable to deliver the budget.

The Finance Ministry earlier indicated that Mr. Ofori-Atta had been receiving medical attention in the US after dealing with complications from COVID-19.

Speaking to Citi News, Dr. Ato Forson, said the current circumstances will not soften their scrutiny of whoever delivers the budget and its policies.

He noted that Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu will be put in a position where he has to answer for a budget he did not prepare.

“Who is going to stand to defend the policies in the budget statement? They are not going to have it easy, I can assure you.”

“We will ask questions. We will have to debate it. He will answer to all the issues that we will raise with the budget.”

“If he is the one going to read before us and present the budget to us, he should be ready to answer the questions as well,” Mr. Forson said.

There were earlier reports speculating that Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Trades and Industry Minister, Alan Kyerematen were being considered to deliver the budget.