Legal Practitioner and Lecturer, Francis Acquah Annan, has urged the government to take Ghanaians serious.
His comment was in reaction to the cost cutting measures by the Finance Minister to save the ailing economy.
The Finance Minister, Mr Ken Ofori Atta outlined some cost cutting measures to save the ailing economy.
The cost-cutting measures include a 50% cut in fuel coupon allocation for government appointees and heads of government institutions effective April 1, 2022.
He said discretionary spending will be further cut by an additional 10% adding that the Ministry of Finance is currently meeting with MDAs to review their spending plans for the rest of the three (3) quarters to achieve the discretionary expenditure cuts;
He mentioned a 50% cut in fuel coupon allocations for all political appointees and Heads of government institutions, including SOEs, effective 1st April 2022.
“With immediate effect, the Government has imposed a complete moratorium on the purchase of imported vehicles for the rest of the year. This will affect all new orders, especially 4-wheel drives. We will ensure that the overall effect is to reduce total vehicle purchases by the public sector by at least 50 per cent for the period,” he said.
Again, he added that with immediate effect Government has imposed a moratorium on all foreign travels, except pre-approved critical/statutory travels.
The Minister revealed that government will prioritize ongoing public projects over new projects explaining that this will enhance the efficient use of limited public funds over the period by finishing ongoing or stalled but approved projects.
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Reacting to this on Atinka TV‘s morning show, Ghana Nie, with Ekourba Gyasi Simpremu, Lawyer Francis Acquah Annan observed that over the years, when one government begins a project, the next government comes to power and ignores it.
Although he agrees with most of the interventions, he said the government must take Ghanaians seriously, pointing to the re-visitation of ongoing projects.
“Since this government came, we have been talking about it and so if it is now that the government has decided to go back to old projects, it is long overdue. We pray the government gets the commitment to continue the projects,” he said.
Ghana| Atinkonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori