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Highlights of the
new budget
Accra, March 5, Ghanadot/GNA – The Minister
of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Duffuor on
Thursday presented the 2009 Budget Statement to Parliament.
The highlights included:
Provision of school uniforms to 1.6 million pupils in public
basic schools throughout the country;
Free supply of exercise books to pupils in public basic
schools
Increase in the capitation grant from three Ghana cedis to
four Ghana cedis, fifty pesewas per year.
Subsidy for examination fees for Basic Education Certificate
Examination and that of Senior High School
Reduction of some taxes on petroleum products
Airport tax for travelling outside West Africa increased
from 50 dollars to 75 dollars
Import duties on rice, wheat and cooking oil re-imposed
Oil, Mining and Forestry companies to repatriate part of
their retention to Ghana
Companies that bring in staff available locally to be
surcharged
National Youth Employment Programme to be transformed into
Youth Employment
Service and made permanent.
Abolition of five per cent contribution by rural communities
towards the provision of potable water
Lands Commission, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA),
Registrar General’s Department, Land Title Registry and
Immigration Service to extend their working hours
The Company Code to be reviewed
Registered Queen Mothers to receive allowances
Accountant General Department to undertake nation-wide head
count of Pensioners
Ferry Services on Volta Lake to be improved
Reactivation of Aveyime Rice Project
Establishment of Members of Parliament Development Fund
Establishment of Savannah Accelerated Development Authority
(SADA) and re-activation of Central Region Development
Company (CEDECOM)
Narcotic Control Law (PNDC Law 236) to be reviewed.
Thirty per cent of construction work to be reserved for
local contractors
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