“Asempa Budget”: Our government will ensure a Ghana beyond aid-Finance Minister

Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori Atta has said, the 2017 budget presents a clear roadmap on how to move the nation from the current state to a full-fledged middle income economy and “A Ghana beyond aid.”

Presenting the 2017 Budget to Parliament on Thursday, he said President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration is determined to move the country to a better state economically.

“The economic challenges we face would require deliberate but urgent strategic steps and the backing and total support of Ghanaians,” he stated.

“I am confident we have the human resources especially in Parliament and the experience and most importantly the resounding mantle of the people to guide and inspire us,” he stressed.

“Our goal is to build the most business friendly, people-centered and friendly economy in Africa which would translate into job creation and prosperity for all Ghanaians. We will strike the right balance between physical consolidation and growth and by making credible policy choices that would create the physical space to implement growth enhancing initiatives.”

According to the Finance Minister, they intend to build a partnership with labour that would result in a social contract that would mark an era of peace in which they would literally enhance the productivity of Ghana’s work force.

However, he said, “this commitment is hampered by five constraints which we need to overcome which include Low revenue collection, expenditure overruns and corruption and high wage bills.”

The budget he said, would address the issues permanently and called for support of all Ghanaians to ensure every plan and policy in the budget is implemented.

He ended by describing the 2017 Budget as the “Asempa Budget.”

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