The Akufo-Addo-led administration just ended a quarterly Cabinet retreat for 2022 held at the Peduase Lodge in Aburi.
At the retreat, President Akufo-Addo "approved a number of far-reaching measures aimed at mitigating the depreciation of the Cedi, ensuring expenditure discipline, and providing relief in the face of global fuel price hikes and inflation as well as ensuring that priority programmes meant to grow the economy are protected" according to Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.
Far-reaching measures
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah speaking in an interview on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo' outlined some of the measures the ruling government will be announcing in the coming days.
Government's flagship programmes
Some persons have called for the review of government's flagship programmes, especially the free SHS policy.
Renowned Journalist, Kwami Sefa Kayi has suggested that government can make the tuition free and charge those at boarding houses.
According to him, "I don't understand why after 4 or 5 years of free SHS, it has not been reviewed . . . How can someone who attends Achimota (for instance) and parents stay at East Legon or airport be made not to pay school fees? How? We can make tuition free but charge those at boarding houses. All I'm asking is, it's been five years let's do a review . . . My opinion is; pay for tuition, exam fee, library fee etc but those who want boarding school must pay".
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah says government has decided to take a second look at “all the 16 flagship programmes; not only the Free SHS policy. We need to take a second look at it at the same time protecting the policies".
Covid protocols at KIA, land borders to be reviewed
The government has also decided to review the Covid-19 restrictions and protocols at the Kotoka International Airport as well as the land borders.
It may be recalled that former President John Mahama recently asked the government to review the protocols at the airports because it's a financial burden on Ghanaians.
"It is a most unfortunate situation that Ghanaians who have valid vaccination certificates cannot board flights back home without a £90 PCR test, and an additional US$50 PCR test booking in Accra . . . I think it is time for Government to review the procedures and protocols," he urged.
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah in the interview stated that, "we’ve received so many complaints but it will soon be reviewed. So far a lot of people have been vaccinated and so the restrictions at the airport will be reviewed . . . including when and how the borders will be opened".
According to him, the Ghana Health Service will put together modalities that will see to the removal of some of the protocols.
Other areas to be covered include the shoring up of the currency and reduction in government expenditure.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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