The Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta has assured Ghanaians jobs will flow in 2018 following the prudent measures which have been outlined in next year’s Budget Statement and Economic Policy.
Mr. Ofori-Atta noted over the past 10 months, the Akufo-Addo-led administration has delivered on its promises, adding 2018 will witness major transformation.
“We promised to pursue policies that will create jobs in the economy and we are delivering. This budget, by the grace of God, will deliver massively on jobs!” Mr. Ofori-Atta assured.
Presenting the 2018 Budget Statement on the Floor of Parliament on Wednesday, November 15, 2017, he averred it took a miracle for the government “to perform” over the last 10 months because they “inherited little from the Mahama Government.”
“With the little inherited from the Mahama Government, our performance these ten months are indeed nothing less than a miracle as evidenced by the blessings and achievements I have just enumerated. I can only add Mr Speaker, that the combination of Philipines 4:19 and Mathew 13, hard work and obedience have greatly benefited our dear country,” he stated.
He added: “We have very good reasons to be optimistic about our country again. Government has shown and will continue to demonstrate through its actions that the welfare of the Ghanaian is paramount. Plans to restore and sustain faith with Ghanaians and external partners. This is evident in our decision to extend the IMF ECF Program to December 2018 to ensure that all our targets are met.”
Recounting some of the achievements of the ruling NPP government, he stated: “We would like to assure Ghanaians that the government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is a government which delivers on its promises:
• We promised to implement a free senior high school policy and we have delivered.
• We promised to restore nursing training allowances, and we have delivered.
• We promised to restore Teacher training allowances and we have delivered
• We promised to end dumsor and we have delivered
• We promised to reduced fertilizer prices by 50% and we have delivered
• We promised to establish a Ministry of Zongo and Inner City Affairs and we have delivered
• We promised to increase and pay peacekeeping allowances increased from $31 to $35 and we have delivered
• We promised to increase the share of the DACF to persons with disabilities from 2% to 3% and we have delivered
• We promised a stimulus package to support local industry and we have delivered
• We promised to implement a National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan and we have delivered
• We promised a more efficient port system and we have delivered
• We promised to reduce the rapid rate of borrowing and accumulation of the public debt and we have delivered
• We promised to restore economic growth and we have delivered
• We promised to reduce inflation and we have delivered.
• We promised to reduce interest rates and we have delivered
• We promised to Improve Ghana’s sovereign credit rating and we have delivered
• We promised to enhance fiscal discipline in the management of our economy and we have delivered
• We promised to reduce taxes and we have delivered
• We promised to stay current on its statutory obligations like the NHIS, DACF, GETFUND, SSNIT and we have delivered
• We promised a National Digital Property Address System and we have delivered
• We promised to institute measures to deal with corruption (including the Office of the Special Prosecutor) and we have delivered
• We promised to issue National ID Cards and we are delivering
• We promised to establish a Zongo Development Fund and we are delivering
• We promised to establish 3 Development Authorities – Northern, Middle Belt, and Coastal, as vehicles for the allocation of the $1 million per constituency, and we are delivering
• We promised to revive the collapsed the railway sector and we are delivering
• We promised One District One Factory and we are delivering
• We promised to reduce electricity tariffs and we are on course to deliver
• We promised to implement a strategy to curb the menace of galamsey and we are delivering
Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM
