The 2017 budget has put the country back on a path to lasting prosperity, fulfilling major promises made by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) during the electioneering campaign, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has stated.
He said free Senior High School (SHS), payment of teacher trainee allowances, 1 million dollars for each of the 275 constituencies and the abolishing of “cut-throat” taxes were some major promises that the budget has set the tone to make them a reality in the first year of the Nana Addo-led administration.
According to the Vice President, the economic prospects of the country now looked brighter and will benefit all Ghanaians, regardless of their political affiliation and religion.
Addressing a large crowd, who joined him on a health walk to mark part of the 60th anniversary celebration in Accra on Saturday, Dr. Bawumia noted that apart from the hope the budget offered all Ghanaians, it was a fundamental instrument to fixing the ailing economy bequeathed to the new government.
Vice President Dr. Bawumia said the unprecedented attention given to the reading of the budget by majority of Ghanaians and the subsequent euphoria that followed showed the country was being restored to good governance and economic prosperity.
The Minister of Finance, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta on Thursday presented the main budget for the 2017 fiscal year, outlining the economic policies of the new government aimed at rolling out to spur economy growth.
Key among some of them included the abolishing of eight taxes and reduction of four others which the NPP described as “nuisance” taxes that hamper the growth of private sector businesses.
It also allocated one million dollars, cedi equivalent to constituencies across the country and provided funds for the payment of teacher trainee allowances as well as free SHS.
According to Vice President Bawumia, the budget had shown that the NPP could be trusted and it had silenced all its critics who hitherto taught the NPP manifesto promises were not feasible and realistic.
He said there was no reason for any Ghanaian to be poor as the country was blessed with much resources hence the vision of the new government to bring hope and prosperity to the citizens of the country.
“Sixty years ago the vision of the founding fathers was for a black star of Africa (Ghana) to shine brightly and we are saying today that we Ghanaians regardless of political affiliation and religion will take that mantle and move the country forward under the leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo,” he stressed.
The Vice President noted that the 60th anniversary had come at a time that God had given the country a visionary leader who had committed himself to give the country a brighter future.
By Charles Amankwa