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Member of the Select Committee on Finance in Parliament, Richard Acheampong has asserted that the ‘so-called’ positive economic indicators which the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta mentioned in the 2020 budget statement are 'cooked'.

He explained that the economic indicators which the Akufo-Addo government is praising itself for as an achievement of a better economy do not reflect on the living conditions of Ghanaians as the hardship in the country is enormous.

Speaking on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, the Member of Parliament for Bia East Constituency said that it will be difficult for the Akufo-Addo government to meet the target of Ghc67 billion in 2020 to fulfill its numerous promises as the Ghana Revenue Authority had already complained about its shortfall of about Ghc3 billion Cedis in 2019.

“The government claims that it is targeting Ghc67 billion in 2020, but Ghana Revenue Authority told us that the tax revenue it intended to collect, there was a shortfall of about Ghc3 billion Ghana Cedis in 2019. Going forward, what shows that the Ghana Revenue Authority will be able to meet the target in 2020?” he asked.

He wondered why the Akufo-Addo government in spite of the available financial resources at its disposal including the Ghc86 billion tax revenue could not construct roads, build schools and provide potable water.

“To whom much is given, much is expected. Why can’t the government construct roads, build schools, provide potable water and build hospitals out of the Ghc86 billion tax revenue it gathered in 2019?” 

"People are complaining of hardship because there is no prosperity as the Finance Minister promised in the 2019 budget statement. Contractors are complaining and so where is the prosperity he promised. Every commodity around us has been increased but their disposable incomes remain the same," he said.

He reiterated that, "the positive indicators of the economy the Finance Minister quoted to Ghanaians should have a positive reflection in our lives. The positive indicators are meaningless if we don’t benefit from them. If you tell me that inflation is single digit and growth is 6.2%, and so if we have these positive indicators and people are still hungry, contractors are not getting their money and the abandoned school projects still remain in the bush, what is the essence of these indicators?”

Quoting Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Richard Acheampong said the Vice President is right to say that, “the positive indicators of the economy should have a direct link with the wellbeing of Ghanaians”.

“Every day, prices of goods and services are going up and yet, they claim that we have positive indicators. It tells you that some of the numbers are being cooked,” he asserted as he bemoaned the hardship in the country.

He, however, claimed that some of the figures in the 2020 budget statement are hidden from the public, insisting that the deficit that the Finance Minister quoted is not correct.