The Member of Parliament for Fanteakwa South, Hon. Kofi Okyere Agyekum, has defended the finance minister on his assertion that Ghana is currently making modest gains in turning the economy around after experiencing severe economic hardship in 2022.
This comes after the finance minister noted during the 2023 mid-year budget review presentation in Parliament on Monday noted that the government has turned the corner- this, the minority described as false but rather government has deepened the woes of the ordinary Ghanaian.
However, speaking on Movement In The Morning show on Movement TV/ Wontumi Radio, the Fanteakwa South lawmaker disagreed with the minority noting that the corner that has been turned by government is reflecting in the lives of Ghanaians and if the NDC thinks otherwise, then they should provide their evidence to buttress their assertions.
“The finance minister told Parliament yesterday that the outstanding arrears owed the School Caterers has not only been settled, but then the was also an increase in their salaries…is their corner not been turned? The common fund that goes into local development has been paid. A few months ago, common funds were in arrears of three quarters, has the corners of the beneficiaries in these rural communities who will benefit from the good roads, hospitals, schools among others not been turned?”, he asked.
He furthered that the pension bondholders who used to picket at the ministry of finance for their matured coupon have stopped because the debt has been settled and that is a clear indication that their corner has been settled.
“The corner has been turned and it is reflecting in our society…a litre of petrol which use to sell at GHS24 is now selling at GHS11 per litre and it has salvaged the hardship people were going through…meaning their corners have been turned…what evidence does the NDC have to challenge what the finance minister said…they should explain”, he added.