Former Minister of Trade and Industry, Ekow Spio-Garbrah, has questioned the capabilities of the current government’s appointees to run their various offices.
Commenting on the 2018 budget presented to Parliament on Wednesday, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer hopeful said although the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has access to more public funds than all his predecessors, he struggles to balance his books.
Ekwow Spio-Garbrah said on his Facebook page that, “Since the GETFund law was put in place in Year 2000 based on my initiatives and with the help of others, especially Dr Ibn Chambas, all governments have been very happy simply to receive the automatic 2 and a 1/2 % of VAT receipts which finances the GETFund. Governments have been blithely oblivious of hundreds of other sources of funding— of which individual contributions are only one source— which could have grown the GETFund to more than USD 1 billion per year, instead of something below USD 250 million a year. In any case, one of the earliest acts of NPP in 2017, was to pass a law this year, capping the receipts that all statutory funds should receive—Road Fund, Tourism Fund, GETFund, DACF, etc—to only 25% of Their lawful 100% entitlement.
“So this Finance Minister, for the first time in more than Three decades, has far more access to and control of liquid public funds than any previous Minister, in addition to the largest single bond borrowing in Africa’s history, yet he is struggling to balance his books and has GHC 3 billion revenue short fall. NPP truly has boys and girls and not Men and women!”
Mr Ofori-Atta on Wednesday announced a voluntary fund to gather individual contributions to support initiatives in the education sector, particularly the free Senior High School (SHS) programme.
However, critics, mainly from the opposition NDC, see the establishment of the fund as an indication of government’s failure to think through its policies thoroughly.
The budget for the free SHS was increased from GHS400 million in 2017 to GHS 1.2 billion in the 2018 budget.
A former Deputy Education Minister under the NDC administration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, believes the establishment of the Voluntary Education Fund is a clear indication that the government was struggling to finance the policy.
Source: Myjoyonline
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Doctor thankx for making sense. how do we introduce FREE SHS and immediately ask for a voluntary fund for the project. whiles there was room for a system think through according to our piece of cloth. SAD FOR GHANA
This team B empty barrel never ceases embarrassing himself due to his intention to be NDC presidential candidate,he's too weak to know how fast Ghanaians have killed and buried his corrupt,incompetent and wicked NDC forever.These use.less,worth.less empty tins will rot in opposition.Real nation wreckers!
The minister is not speaking the truth regarding the implementation of Getfund. This was initiated by students because of delays in releasing our ssnit loans at the time. I expect the student leadership at the time to react to this false claim by the former minister.
why are some of you on this platform are quick to insult ?please this is not about politics its a national issue,if you got no fact to dispute what the Hon Man is saying please state put.For the insult is only a cover up of ignorance of some folks.shame unot u for hiding behind technology to perpetuate this cowardly acts.
Hw3 no kawsia
see who is talking. when you met the business world and told them you would met the banks to reduce interest rates, you never knew the main source of interest rates comes from government policy rates. know do not know 'shelen' or tee.
WHEN YOU WERE REFUSED APPOINTMENT IN MILLS' TEAM 'B' YOU GLADLY EMBRACED A POSITION IN MAHAMA'S TEAM 'Z' UNTIL YOUR HUMILIATING DEFEAT. TICKLE YOURSELF AND LAUGH LOUD BECAUSE IT IS ONLY ndc WHEN EVEN IF THE OBVIOUS IS A LOSS, THEY WILL TELL THE WHOLE WORLD THAT THEY ARE IN A COMFORTABLE LEAD AND ASK THEIR SUPPORTERS TO CLAD IN WHITE. WHAT A SHAME? PATHOLOGICAL LIARS.
If this is a way of making yourself relevant for your presidential candidate ambitions, then forget it because your own NDC do not even recognise you. In any case these are not Team 'B' Ministers in NPP as happened in your government which led them successfully to opposition, big time!!!!
heheheehehehehehehe see who is talking !!!! You joined Mahama's team D and didn't see top koraaaaaaaa and you are here talking basabasa, I leave you to your own NDC guys!!!!
I JUST LIKE THESE NDC GUYS. WHETHER IN GOVERNMENT OR IN OPOSITION THEY ALWAYS STAND OUT BRILLIANT. THEY THE NATION BUILDERS