Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta
The Akufo-Addo-led NPP government has reassured Ghanaians of its commitment to ensuring that their lives and jobs are secure, irrespective of the Covid 19 pandemic. Government has also promised to reposition the country and her citizenry in dealing with the pandemic.
Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, the Finance minister, gave this assurance yesterday when he presented the Mid- Year Review of the 2020 Budget to Parliament.
While admitting that Ghana, like other developing and developed countries the world over, has recorded some adverse effects of the pandemic, he said the country is solidly on its feet, thanks to prudent management of the economy by NPP.
The Finance Minister said it takes a courageous, compassionate and competent government to protect lives and property of the citizenry in abnormal times.
It is against this backdrop that he urged the people to retain the NPP in 2020 elections, and even beyond, to continue protecting them.
He stressed that protection of the people’s lives, property and jobs is only possible under competent economy managers.
Mr Ofori -Atta emphasized that the Ghanaian economy, which was in total shambles when the NPP took over in January 2017, is now back on track with well thought-out policies.
Free SHS
He revealed that over 1.2 million Ghanaian children have benefited from the Free Senior High School programme, adding that the programme has seen Junior High School graduates entering Senior High Schools regardless of their finances.
The Finance Minister stated that an amount of GHC3.2 billion has been invested into the programme to provide quality and accessible education to all.
“In acknowledgement that education is the primary driver for upward social and economic mobility, we rolled out a raft of policy measures to improve the opportunities of our people. We invested GHC 3.2 billion to implementing Free SHS,” he emphasised.
He stressed that this has translated into GHC2.2billion in savings in the pockets of parents and families of the beneficiaries.
He further mentioned that over 2.9 million pupils in public schools across the country are also benefiting from the government’s Ghana School Feeding Programme.
According to him, the impactful education policies rolled out by the NPP government have made it possible for the Ghana Education Service to record the largest number of students so far enrolled in the country’s history, adding that government’s investment in education seeks to educate and improve lives.
Covid-19 impact
Mr Ofori-Atta noted that the New Patriotic Party government has been more accountable to Ghanaians than any government in this country, adding that 2020 has been challenging to the growth of the economy due to the Corona virus pandemic.
He continued: “We will optimise the opportunities presented by this pandemic and build a sustainable future for Ghanaians. In the new famous words of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, ‘We know how to bring the economy back to life’.”
