A communications team member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Amaning, has described the 2023 budget statement as the best so far in the history of Ghana.
However, he was quick to add that the NPP ought to be very vigilant because the NDC is capable of doing everything possible to change the fortunes of the budget.
In an interview with Kwaku Dawuro on Movement in the morning show on Wontumi Radio/Movement TV, he said that “this is by far, a budget that inspires and gives hope than any other budget. We should however be very careful with the NDC because they are capable of delaying the approval of the budget so that investors will lose confidence in the budget- and also when they know that the budget is capable of changing the fortunes of the budget. So, politically we should be very careful so we can monitor the NDC and ensure that our numbers in parliament are able to get the budget approved”.
Speaking on what is concerned in the budget, he noted that the slashing of import bill by per cent 50% is a laudable measure. Noting, that it’s an opportunity that Ghanaians should take advantage of.
“So, you and I have the opportunity to market our goods, i.e., rice production, vegetables among others. Aside from that the government has also realized that our forex demand is so high, as every month we need about $400M to import crude and therefore if government is introducing a system of exchange of commodities so that we can exchange our gold for oil to reduce the demand of the forex- so that the demand on the dollar will drop and will strengthen our cedi”, he said.
Adding that “also, you will realize that the budget is more of agribusiness, in the sense that most of measures were centered on how best products made in the country will get much more attention. Hence, nobody will receive support to import same items into the country and that will help reduce importation.