Mixed Reaction To 2015 Budget Statement

Government has hinted that the Auditor General's report will be implemented and any official caught in any corrupt act will be dealt with. This was contained in the 2015 budget presented by the Minister of Finance Seth Terkper on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the Ghana Integrity Initiative, Vitus Azeem, says government has been unfair with Ghanaians especially with the content of the 2015 budget statement. Mr Azeem is particularly not happy with some of the issues contained in the 2015 budget with respect to taxes and corruption. Reacting to issues raised in the budget, Mr Azeem was also disappointed in the majority members for approving the 17.5% petroleum tax the same day without considering what is in there for Ghanaians. To him, the case that corrupt officials would be prosecuted next year is also nothing to go by. In a related development, a political science lecturer at the University of Education-Winneba, Braimah Awaisu, has predicted that next year will be a difficult one for Ghanaians. According to him, the 2015 budget stands to bring hardship to the people especially with the imposition of taxes on petroleum products and other sectors. Speaking to Radio Ghana on the issues contained in the 2015 budget, Mr Bramiah said with such proposed taxes in place, government should soon expect claims by labour unions for salary increment, as a result of high cost of living. Radio Ghana sought the views of the public on the 2015 budget presented in parliament yesterday .The general concern was that an increase in tax and fuel prices would increase the cost of living.