Government is expected to start rolling out eight additional interventions this month under the Ghana’s Coronavirus Alleviation and Revitalisation of Enterprises Support Scheme (Ghana-CARES) programme, to create more jobs and boost the Ghanaian economy.
The GH ¢100 billion programme, also known as “Obaatanpa” involves the implementation of various projects in the health, agriculture, tourism, trade, digitization and technology as well as housing and social services sectors.
The Minister for Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, announced this at a media in Accra, on Sunday, to update the public on key government programmes and progress made so far.
The media encounter held on the topic, “Rebuilding the Ghanaian Economy, “was also intended to address the concerns raised by #FixTheCountry campaigners.
Mr Ofori-Atta said government will also begin the implementation of $250 million Jobs and Skills Development programme to create jobs in the private sector businesses, instead of expanding government employment schemes.
The Minister said, in the coming days, his outfit would collaborate with the Water Resources and Sanitation Ministry to address water challenges, especially in the urban centres to ensure regular flow of potable water from the taps.
It will also work collaboratively with the Ministries of Transport and Roads and Highways to tackle traffic congestion on the highways.
In July this year, he said, a new Development Bank will be set up to provide long-term financing to the private sector through commercial banks.
Mr Ofori-Atta noted that despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Ghanaian economy, the rate of growth of the public debt had been lower under the Akufo-Addo-led Government than under previous administrations.
“The rate of debt growth was lower despite massive investments in our flagship programmes such as the Free Senior High School Policy, Planting for Food and Jobs, NABCo, One District, One Factory, One Village, One Dam, restoration of teacher and nursing trainee allowances, while maintaining macroeconomic indicators and exchange rate stability.
“We were elected not to complain or compare, but to get things done. To fix what is broken and Government and I are determined and committed to do just that,” Mr Ofori-Atta assured.
He underscored the need to keep the healthy conversation and dialogue on fixing the economy going so that “we can have a collective action to deal with the country’s challenges”.
Mr Ofori-Atta announced a hashtag ‘Fix this together and save our country’.
