Former President John Dramani Mahama says the Nana Addo-led government is not ready to make sacrifices in the midst of excruciating economic challenges.
According to him, all sacrifices in response to the current economic challenges in Ghana are being pushed on the citizens.
Speaking at the 13th Congregation of the Accra Business School, John Mahama criticised President Akufo Addo for continuing to keep a large size government instead of cutting down the same to reduce the cost of running government business.
Albeit the government has proposed some spending cuts, such as reducing appointee salaries by 30%, limiting the use of V8 vehicles, reducing fuel coupons, limiting FX support for the importation of certain items, among other things, the 2020 National Democratic Congress flagbearer mentioned that such measures are negligible in addressing the economy’s challenges.
“Expenditure has increased significantly by almost 80 billion cedis. There is no significant expenditure cut that mirror the gravity of the situation we have found ourselves in. It appears that we are set to live with the excessively bloated government especially in the Presidency. One would have thought that the size of government will be reduced to cut down expenditure. This administration is not willing to make any sacrifices, all the sacrifices are to be borne by the Ghanaian people,” he said.
He went on to say that the 2023 budget is riddled with reckless spending that could have been prevented in order to save resources for more fruitful adventures.
Despite opposition from the minority group, Parliament approved the budget for 2023 on Tuesday.
The budget contains a debt exchange programme and increased VAT which have been described by Mr Mahama as sacrifices being slapped on the citizenry.
Source: Mynewsgh.com
