Public Expect First Budget Reading To Reflect Promises In NPP Manifesto

The Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, is expected to deliver the first budget of President Akufo-Addo's government in Parliament March 2. 

President Akufo-Addo has assured Ghanaians that the first budget of his administration, will spell out well-thought through policies to put the ailing Ghanaian economy he inherited back on track. 

He said it will contain policies that will strengthen the cedi, create jobs for the teeming unemployed youth, and ease challenges on private businesses in the country.

The Dean of Graduate Studies, at the Institute of Local Government Studies, Dr Eric Oduro-Osae has asked the Akufo-Addo led government to announce bold policies to stabilize the economy in Thursday's budget statement. 

He said he expects government to also outline areas to receive tax cuts to help the private sector to grow. 

Speaking on GBC’s Current Affairs Programme “FOCUS,” which discussed budget expectations, Dr Oduro-Osae said, in as much as Ghanaians have high expectations, government cannot reduce taxes in all the areas it promised in its manifesto in Thursday's budget. 

He called on government to come out with a timetable on the review of taxes.

The Director of Labour, Research and Policy of the TUC, Kwabena Nyarko Otoo said the TUC has made a proposal to the government calling for a review of the Single Spine Pay Policy to address some challenges.  

He said the TUC also expects the government to make a major policy statement on how to address the unemployment situation with major investments in agriculture.

Speaking via phone the CEO of the Association of Ghana Industries Seth Twum Akwaboah said, industry expects government to make good on its promise to reduce corporate taxes. 

He said government must also implement policies to reduce interest rates for business to expand.

GBC