Government to present mid-term budget
Accra Aug. 4, Ghanadot/GNA – Vice
President John Dramani Mahama said on Tuesday that
Government would present a mid-term budget to parliament
this month to review the fiscal year.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday in an
interview, he said the review would make it possible for
government to support the public sector, which had been
severely hit by the 2009 budget.
He said through sound economic management, government had
paid more than GH¢500 million out of the GH¢1.4 billion
arrears, which was owed to contractors.
Mr Mahama said the payment did not cover debts incurred by
some district assemblies which had approved contracts that
had exceeded their share of the Districts Assemblies’ Common
Fund.
He said the debt portfolio could not be paid even by 2012.
The Vice President said that was the reason why President
John Evans Atta Mill had ordered a forensic audit of the
Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.
Mr Mahama said the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC)
had managed the more than one billion Ghana cedis oil
deficit it inherited in such a way that the economy did not
grind to a halt.
The Vice President said government had stabilized the cedi
and fairly managed the inflation rate, which had started
dropping.
He said by next year the current budget deficit would be
settled to facilitate salary enhancement for workers.
The Vice President said it was ironic that those who ruined
the economy had now turned round to be accusing the NDC
government for the hardship the country was facing.
Mr Mahama said the President had no immediate plans to
reshuffle its ministers, because some of the members of the
Executive had spent barely four months in office.
He said the Policy, Monitoring and Evaluation team had just
been put in place to give objective appraisal on the
performance of government appointees.
GNA
