The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party has found it absurd, a decision by the minority members in Parliament, to describe the 2019 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Akufo-Addo-led government as “Made-in-China”.
Mr. Bernard Antwi-Boasiako explained that with a population of 1.3 billion, China, recently became the world’s second-largest economy; contributing 39% to world growth in 2016, according to the IMF.
For this reason, he noted that it wasn’t wrong for a nation like Ghana to seek help from China.
The NPP scribe better known as Chairman Wontumi in a sleek way noted that the joke is now on the minority NDC MPs after they used the wrong phrase to describe the budget statement which was presented by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
“The minority members in Parliament are a bunch of jokers. If a made-in-China budget has increased the enrollment of students in Senior High Schools and put our economy back on track, then it is a good thing”, he said.
NDC’s made-in-Togo budget
He went on to lash out at the NDC MPs noting that under former President Mahama, then Finance Minister, Seth Terkper, presented “made-in-Togo” budget statements; making the NPP’s “made-in-China” budget superior to theirs.
Chairman Wontumi indicated that “even your made-in-Togo budget statements which killed businesses through dumsor and allowed corruption to become the norm of the day was given a nod by the incompetent former President Mahama and his economic team.”
He established that anytime former Finance Minister, Seth Terkper, presented the “made-in-Togo” budget, it gave a clearer indication that the NDC had looted state money meant for development”.
“Tells us the development any of your budget statement brought to Ghanaians. NDC members had looted state money under Mahama and that is what we remember you for. I dare the minority NDC MPs to tell us what their inferior made-in Togo budget statement did to bring development in Ghana”, he charged.
Mr. Bernard Antwi-Boasiako further explained that after listening to the budget statement read by Ken Ofori Atta, he has come to understand that the GDP rebasing exercise completed in September, 2018, makes Ghana’s economy 24.5% larger.
He added that the rebasing resulted in a number of changes in the following economic indicators:
– Per capita GDP rose from GHS 7,110 to GHS 8,863
– The 2017 GDP growth rate of 8.5% was revised down to 8.1%, which is still the highest in recent years.
He went on to state that the Bank of Ghana monetary policy rate currently at 17% is the largest 18-month reduction in the monetary policy rate since 2001. This he said, has upgraded Ghana’s Sovereign Credit rating from B- to B by S&P.
He ended by noting that under the NPP’s ‘made-in-China’ budget statement, the Zongo Development Fund, has given way for five Astroturfs (with spectator stands and dressing rooms) to be constructed at Madina, Kyebi and Walewale.
In addition to that, the NPP scribe stated that five recreational parks were completed for use at Bolgatanga, Salaga, Yeji, Tafo-Kumasi and Akim Oda.
He therefore warned the NDC to put respect on the China brand and realize that they had grown to be a global powerhouse countries like ‘Togo’ look up to.
Source: peacefmonline.com