President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is set to launch an ambitious GH¢100 billion Ghana Development Programme.
The unprecedented three-and-half-year programme dubbed Ghana Coronavirus Alleviation Revitalisation of Enterprises Support (Ghana CARES) will anchor the comprehensive transformation of the Ghanaian society.
Minister fir Finance Ken Ofori-Atta disclosed this in Parliament during presentation of the mid-year budget review yesterday.
Government, he said, has brainstormed over the COVID-19 crises with the view of using the challenges it brings as an opportunity to transform the country for Ghanaians.
According to him, the Ghana CARES programme dubbed Obatan Pa programme will lay the foundation for transforming Ghana from a hopeful society to a results oriented one.
He indicated that the government has been investing unprecedented resources to contend with the Coronavirus pandemic and its effects on Ghanaians and stressed the Akufo-Addo New Patriotic Party (NPP) government is up to that task.
Mr. Ken Ofori Atta disclosed that the predicted long lasting effects of the pandemic amidst the systematic shifts and uncertainties suggest 2020 and beyond would be very challenging.
He said, “Ghana would therefore need a continuity of courageous, compassionate and competent government with a well crafted programme to protect the lives of Ghanaians, save their jobs and support businesses to sustain their operations during this period and especially in the next four years.”
He explained this can only be possible with a competent economic management of the economy and an NPP government led by Akufo-Addo being at the helm.
He said, “We have proven over and over again that we are better managers of the economy. Together we took Ghana out of HIPC and placed it among middle income countries within a decade.”
“Together we recovered and revitilized a critically weaken economy and today we can attract global automotive companies in just three years of returning to office.”
“Together once again, we will optimize the opportunities presented by this pandemic and build a sustainable future for Ghanaians.”
“In the famous words of President Akufo-Addo, ‘We know how to bring the economy back,’ therefore the 2020 mid-year fiscal policy review is the first of our economic plans to reposition Ghana and Ghanaians to deal with the challenges posed by the pandemic and seize the opportunities it brings,” he added.
According to him, government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic is to prioritise protection of lives and livelihoods, sustain business operations and sharpen the focus on Ghana’s future.
He disclosed the President, in his address to the Nation some months ago, charged the Finance Ministry to design Ghana’s recovery programme, which has culminated into the Ghana CARES programme.
He urged Parliament to support the Ministry’s request for supplementary funding to implement the government’s priorities of saving lives and livelihoods, and supporting businesses to ensure the health of Ghanaians and their jobs are secured in these challenging times.
