2020 budget: We’ve fought and won painful battles – Ofori-Atta

Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, says the Akufo-Addo government has fought and won some painful financial battles since assuming power.

“This is the year that one can confidently say that God’s blessings of the hard work is beginning to manifest, putting us on a positive trajectory for sustained lift,” Mr Ofori-Atta said on Wednesday when he presented the 2020 Budget to Parliament.

He continued: “I say so because we have won some painful but necessary battles for God and country. We have stabilised the microeconomic turbulence that was all too regular a feature in the management of the national economy. We have delivered on our flagship programme. The Gains made so far are significant and it is indeed to the glory of God,” he said.

He said the inflation rate has fallen from 15.4 per cent in December 2016 to 7.6 per cent in September 2019, the lowest since March 1992 adding that the 91-day treasury bill rate also fell steadily from nearly 17 per cent in December 2016 and now stands at 14.7 per cent;

“The fiscal deficit has declined from 6.5 per cent of GDP in 2016 to 4.5 percent at the end of the third quarter of 2019; On the external front, the trade deficit has improved from US$1.8 billion in 2016 to a surplus of US$2.6 billion in August 2019” he told the Parliamentarians.

The Finance Minister also disclosed that Ghana’s economic growth was also as a result of the Akufo-Addo administration’s performance in fulfilling pledges and programs.

“I am proud to stand here and declare that the President has redeemed all the pledges he made to the people of Ghana much to the dismay and chagrin of the naysayers. The success of the implementation of the Flagship programmes is borne out by incontrovertible evidence corroborated by data 1.2 million students have been enrolled in SHS because of the free SHS programme and their parents relieved of the burden of fees; in 2020 we will spend Ghc2.2billion on them 97,373 graduates have given opportunities in a work environment through NABCO to been better position them to secure jobs.

In 2020 over Ghc800m will be spent on them 307 Ambulances have been procured for distribution to each constituency and all regional and teaching hospitals, 1000 institutional toilets are under construction 560 dams are under construction with 200 dams completed 50 prefabricated grain warehouses 25 markets under construction 55,000 nurses have been recruited while 1.9 million people have benefited from the planting for Food and Job Programme”.

The Minister’s presentation which was on theme “Consolidating the gains for growth, jobs and prosperity for all” also highlighted on the transformation made in the Railway and Energy Sector, the creation of jobs and restoration of allowances for health workers and teachers.

Source: Starrfm.com.gh