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The Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has said that the Akufo-Addo led government has for the past three years spent more than GH¢12 billion on implementing key social intervention policies that have brought relief to Ghanaians.

Mr. Ofori-Atta presenting the 2020 budget statement in Parliament said the amount includes spending on Free Senior High School, Planting for Food and Jobs among other policy initiatives.

He argued that these initiatives have contributed to “putting monies in the pockets” of Ghanaians.

According to him, from 2017 to date, these interventions by Government have put at least GH¢ 12.2 billion in the pockets of Ghanaians.

Specifically;

1. Free SHS has saved parents a total of GH¢1.8 billion with the last three years and that is money in their pockets;

2. Planting for Food and Jobs has saved farmers a total of GHc844 million over the last three years for subsidized fertilizer and this is money in their pockets;

3. A total of GH¢ 357 million have been put into the pockets of Teacher trainees within the last three years in the form of allowances;

4. A total of GH¢ 336 million have been put into the pockets of the Nursing trainee within the last three years in the form of allowance;

5. Subsidy for the BECE registration fee has saved parents a total of GHc65 million over the last two years and that is money in their pockets;

6. The electricity tariff reductions effected by the PURC effective March 15, 2018, resulted in savings of GH¢ 1.8 billion for a year for residential and non-residential customers and this is money in their pockets;

7. The reduction and abolition of taxes (including the 50% reduction in import duty) has saved taxpayers a total of GHC4.1 billion over the last three years and that is money in their pockets;

8. The over 350,000 jobs that have been created in the public sector (including the 100,000 NABCO graduates) has provided total earnings to them of GH¢ 2.9 billion and that is money in their pockets.