Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen has commended Leader of Government Business in Parliament Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu for the excellent manner that he read the 2021 budget statement on behalf of the Finance Minister in parliament on Friday March 12.
Earlier reports in the media suggested that Mr Kyerematen was tipped to read the budget in the absence of the Finance Minister. However, the President finally picked the Majority Leader in Parliament to present the budget statement.
In a brief statement after the budget reading Mr Kyerematen said “Yesterday in Parliament, we witnessed the presentation of a clear strategy that is designed to lift this nation out of the various challenges imposed on us by the COVID-
“The Akufo-Addo led Government in 2021 will continue restoring economic fundamentals, building industries and creating jobs to ensure ‘cash-for-the-people’ thereby improving the livelihood of Ghanaians.
“Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu did a good job presenting the 2021 budget and economic statement and deserves to be applauded.”
The 2021 budget statement pegged Ghana’s fiscal deficit at 13.7 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
This deficit, according to the budget, include the cost of the financial sector cleanup up.
“The fiscal deficit including the financial sector cost for 2020 is 13 .7 per cent of GDP,” the budget said adding that “it was financed from both domestic and external sources.”
Regarding Ghana’s debt stock, the budget said the debt rose from 122billion in 2019 to 291.6billion as at the end of December 2020.
The debt include the cost of the financial sector cleanup, the majority leader added.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu further assured Ghanaians that there is no cause for alarm in the face of the coronavirus crisis, which hit the country in March, 2020.
He said the measures taken by government so far makes Ghana better positioned to recover economically from the pandemic.
“Government succeeded in protecting virtually all jobs and incomes in public sector. For the people of Ghana have witnessed since the coronavirus pandemic ahead of the rest of the world, a leadership that is responsible, creative, courageous, decisive and above all very caring.
He said the policies such as the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP) have seen major results recorded “that have made it easier for people to cope with this unprecedented crisis”.
For him, the measures taken were to save lives, protect livelihoods and safeguard economic activities and they did just that.
“Mr Speaker, today Ghana is better positioned to recover and rebuild an even more resilient economy. Nobody says we know how to do it but also because the grace of God has been assured for this journey.”
By Laud Nartey|3news.com|Ghanahttp
