Former Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, has described the 2018 budget statement as ‘Ahokyere’ budget, to wit, a budget of difficulty.
Speaking in an interview with Class FM minutes after the Finance Minister read the budget on Wednesday, 15 November, Dr Spio-Garbrah said: “This is Ahokyere budget, a budget for difficulty for the Ghanaian people.”
Meanwhile, the minority in parliament has described the budget as a scam.
This is a “419”, “wahala” and “propaganda” budget, Bernice Heloo, MP for Hohoe said in an interview in parliament after the minister presented the budget.
Among other things, the government is proposing a reduction in electricity cost by 13% and also intends employing 100,000 graduates next year. The government also announced the scrapping of taxes on low earnings and gave private universities and young entrepreneurs some tax breaks.
Ms Heloo, however, said the government made similar promises in the 2017 budget but has not fulfilled them and, thus, wondered how the new promises can be fulfilled.
“A lot of similar promises were made in the 2017 budget; 750,000 youth were promised jobs, you haven’t dealt with the past promises and you are promising 100,000 jobs.
“Trained nurses are home without jobs, teachers are home jobless and you are adding on. This is a propaganda budget,” she insisted.
As far as the government’s free senior high school programme is concerned, Ms Heloo said the quality is compromised, adding that “young girls are sleeping outside at the mercy of the weather” while “parents are renting hostel facilities” for their children at a high cost and “young boys getting into bad company.”
Also speaking to Class91.3FM, minority spokesperson on finance Cassiel Ato Forson said the budget is full of deception, adding that Ghana will end the year with a 73% debt-to-GDP ratio despite the 68% projection of the finance minister.
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Leave these NDC boys and girls to say what they like. The Ghanaian voter has the final say. They plan liees and disseminate them the unsuspecting masses as they did in 2007 - 2008 and foolled Ghanaians to win the election. Since Mr. Spio Garbrah was attacked by his people for telling the truth on how the NPP is managing the economy better, he has now put on his real NDC colours. No matter what they say or do NDC YA MUTU!!!
Does it mesn that these people do have a single individual who is original and has a little sense?Surely if the th13f Mahama had run the economy better all these challenges would not be there for the current government to resolve.The least they could do is to ***barred word*** and say 'We wish the government well'
These ndc people who have never reduced any tariff before when they were in power are annoying.... Spio Garbrah should tell us one thing he achieved as a minister in John Mahama govt.... These ndc greedy t.h.i.e.ves must leave us alone.... The special prosecutor is coming for you guys,
SEE WHO IS TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET. IF NDC WAS A BIT CAREFUL, GHANA WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER THAN NOW
Spio is not a Dr.
Anokwa NDC members are ***barred word***! Is it envy or ***barred word*** at the highest level?
Listen to the NDC ***barred word***