Accra:Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Ranking Member of Parliament for the Economy and Development Committee, has called on the government to account for a GHS650 billion allocation over the past two years before moving forward with a proposed new economic programme requiring $10 billion.
According to Ghana Web, the Ofoase Ayirebi MP expressed concerns surrounding discussions by President John Dramani Mahama and Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson about the new economic strategy aimed at job creation and economic growth. He emphasized the need for transparency regarding the resources allocated to existing programmes, such as the 24-hour economy, the Nkoko Nkete poultry initiative, the One Million Coders programme, and the proposed Women's Development Bank.
Oppong Nkrumah pointed out that although the government has presented the programme to Parliament, it has yet to be debated and adopted. He questioned the number of jobs created under these initiatives and the impact on women benefiting from the proposed credit scheme.
He highlighted that Parliament had approved two budgets totaling approximately GHS650 billion for the government's economic commitments and insisted on a detailed account of how the funds were utilized and the outcomes achieved before pursuing additional funding for a new economic agenda.
Oppong Nkrumah urged a focus on the original programme, emphasizing the need for its adoption and implementation. He called for a proper assessment to allow Ghanaians to evaluate whether the government has delivered on its promises. He also stressed that the proposed $10 billion initiative should not divert attention from existing commitments and urged both the NDC and opposition NPP to demand accountability for the current economic programme.