Ken Ofori-Atta
GOVERNMENT SAYS it has made a significant impact in the lives of Ghanaians since it took over the administration of the country.
It said it had reduced poverty, bridged inequality gaps, provided adequate and accessible quality education, improved healthcare and provided affordable housing.
Besides, it said it had promoted a vibrant agricultural sector and improved food security, ensured robust security measures and revitalized industries, amongst others.
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, who made this known in Parliament on Tuesday, said the implementation of the 2019 budget was on course.
He announced: “We are ready to take on board the third cohort of the Free SHS students in September 2019. We have started paying contractors who have certificates valued up to GH¢500,000 and planned to clear these by the end of the year. In keeping with our promise, the referendum to decide on the election of MMDCEs will come off in December 2019.”
He said government had issued a number of commencement approvals for work to begin on a number of roads, drains, fish landing sites and housing projects, adding that the relevant ministries and development authorities are expected to complete procurement processes and award contracts for work to begin on all projects by October 2019.
According to him, such programmes would generate critical economic activities, provide job opportunities and improve incomes for masons, carpenters, food vendors, road and general contractors and many others in the informal sectors of Ghana.
“These priority programmes further underscore government’s commitment towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As part of government efforts to address the need for improvement in rural roads, government in the coming weeks will set up a committee which will include officers of the 48 Engineers Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces, to spearhead a new national effort of mobilizing local authorities to construct passable critical feeder roads, related drainage and bridges across the country.
“Local authorities will be supported to urgently deploy road equipment by assisting with the repairs of any broken down equipment… We will work with the ministers for Local Government & Rural Development, Roads and Highways and the Special Development Initiatives to explore all available financing options within the budget.”
BY Samuel Boadi