GOVERNMENT POLICY INITIATIVES UNDER 2018 BUDGET TO BUILD NATION FROM CURRENT STATE TO GHANA BEYOND AID – REGIONAL MINISTER

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Simon Osei-Mensah has indicated that the aim of the 2018 budget with the policy initiatives of the government was to build the nation from its current state to a Ghana beyond Aid.

He said the policy initiatives included the programme for economic transformation to accelerate modernization and development infrastructure that supported agricultural zones, financial sector initiatives to achieve an efficient financial sector, energy sector to give relief to the poor in reduction of tariffs and revenue and measures to stimulate investment and shape economic behavior.

He was speaking at the Regional Launch of the 2018 Budget Campaign to be undertaken in the region by the Information Services Department (ISD) in Kumasi on Tuesday 17th April, 2018. Under the auspices of the Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council and the Information Services Department (ISD) in collaboration with the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), the function was attended by District Information Officers, Heads of Department, Assembly Members, representatives from the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Ghana Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Beauticians and Hairdressers and market queens.

The Regional Minister said: “The policies are geared at getting the Ghanaian take full ownership and responsibility for the economic growth and transformation in a new partnership with development partners.”

The 2018 budget which was presented to Parliament in November 2017 under the theme: “Stabilization for growth putting Ghana back to work” had a broad vision of creating jobs leading to equal opportunities for all Ghanaians.

Mr. Osei-Mensah said government had placed renewed emphasis on the agricultural sector, pumping in resources into the sector to facilitate rapid integration to the global and regional value chain. He also said the revival and modernization of Ghana’s agricultural sector through the introduction of the Planting for Food and Jobs programme, provision of financial support and inputs for farmers and the intensification of the Local Economic Delivery (LED) Programme of the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies among others were a major plank of the government’s agenda and commitment of creating and providing jobs for the people.

The Regional ISD Director, Nana AKrasi-Sarpong, in his opening remark said the Regional Launch of the 2018 Budget Campaign underscored ISD’s determination and desire to always reach out to people in the Districts and in the Region as a whole to explain National Policies and Programmes at first hand and also know the concerns of the people.

He further stated that the Department which is under the Ministry of Information (MOI) remained the strongest link between the government and the citizenry adding that “it is the main public relations outfit of the government and the mouthpiece of the government.

Nana Akrasi said the contribution of ISD in enhancing Ghana’s democracy and development as well as preservation of its history was undisputable.