Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament Alexander Afenyo-Markin has challenged the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to proffer its own solutions to challenges facing the country if they believe the Akufo-Addo government is not doing enough and not just criticisms.
According to him, the NDC cannot provide any alternative because since the New Patriotic Party (NPP) assumed office five years ago, the opposition NDC has not been able to suggest alternatives to government.
“If they can do anything better in the circumstances we find ourselves as a country, I challenge them to immediately come up with their own solutions,” he stated.
Speaking to journalists in Parliament after the Finance Minister delivered the 2022 Budget statement on Wednesday, the Deputy leader stressed that it is only through sheer competency the government is reversing the downturn occasioned by the COVID pandemic.
He indicated that as part of this recovery process, the government is introducing a programme for the youth at the various district levels where small scale startups can have access to funds up to GH¢10,000.
“And if they are graduates who have their startups and want expansion, they can have up to GH¢50,000. And where they are medium scale, they have between 100, 000 and 500,000,” he said.
According to him, the government is guiding this investment into the private sector by channelling it through the private financial institutions.
“So it is not going to be goodies from government but companies that are properly registered and have gone training, these individuals will be encouraged to register with the banks.
“And through that the banks will take them through the process of giving them that financial support, this will be a concessionary facility.”
Every Ghanaian, he assured, will have an equal opportunity to get support so that those at the informal sector level chasing for formal sector jobs, can unearth their potential and make sure that the little that they can explore gets support.
The Deputy Majority Leader who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Effutu said the government has demonstrated competence in its ability to manage the situation at hand, stressing that in the midst of all challenges and support to the people, the government has not given up.
According to him, members of the opposition NDC were expecting a doomsday budget but were pleasantly surprised by the reliefs to the private sector, even beyond their own imagination.
The budget, he said, calls on all Ghanaians to rally and support the government’s initiative to succeed.
