Members of Parliament on the ticket of the opposition, National Democratic Congress, (NDC), are crying out to the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that times are hard.
The MPs today at a news conference, on the expectation of the 2020 Budget and Economic Policy slated for Wednesday, November 13, 2019 lamented that “the hardship is real and not cosmetic”.
The Minority spokesperson and a Ranking Member on Finance, Casiel Ato Forson said the macroeconomic indices cannot translate into improved livelihoods.
The Minority again insisted that the approach adopted in the so-called banking and financial sector clean-up is the most “reckless and inhuman” option.
Mr. Forson said: “Contrary to initial assurances that depositors’ funds will be protected and jobs will be saved, he noted that none of these assurances have been kept”.
According to him, the mess has further aggravated the unbearable hardships Ghanaians are currently experiencing with the overall negative effect on the larger Ghanaian economy.
They expect the Finance Minister to put out concrete measures to address non payments of depositors and the savaging jobs in the Akufo-Addo led-government.
The MPs have challenged the government by firing several questions including:, “Will this budget end the unprecedented suffering and misery of Ghanaians.”
“Will this budget address the growing unemployment and escalating hopelessness of the youth.”
“Will this budget settle the long outstanding payments of government contractors and suppliers, many of whose businesses have collapsed and some have died out of frustration.” They questioned.
They further queried, if the budget will ensure that employees in government institutions and programmes such as NaBCO, Youth in Afforestation, Teacher and Nurses trainees paid their mounting arrears”
As well as will this budget ensure that the statutory arrears such as District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), National Health Insurance Levy, (NHIL), GETFund, which have paralyzed the work of assembly, deteriorated the NHIL and devastated the educational system be paid.
Story by Edzorna Francis Mensah
