Member of Parliament for Dormaa East Paul Appreku Twum-Barimah has said that although the economy has not healed totally, there are signs that it is rebounding.
He indicated that the mere fact that the Minister of Finance did not introduce new taxes in the mid-year budget presented to Parliament on Monday, July 31 shows that the economy is recovering
He told journalists that “we are not out of the woods, we cannot pride ourselves that our economy is doing best but we can say just that last year by this time we were buying fuel at 22 Cedis but now it is around 14, we were buying a dollar at around 17 but it is now at 11. It tells you that there are certain challenges that have been curtailed. The fact that this budget didn’t come with any supplementary, didn’t come with any request, or with any new taxes should make us feel that as Ghanains we are getting it right.”
Presenting the mid year budget, Mr Ofori-Atta said that with a lot of effort, the government managed to avoid empty shop shelves for medicines and other essentials the country has seen no shortages of food;
“We have been spared the frustrating spectre of long queues for fuel at our filling stations; and, we have managed, in spite of all the challenges, to keep the lights on,” he said.
“Indeed, as the Psalmist said (in Psalm 118:23) this is the LORD’s doing; and it is marvellous in our eyes.
“This ‘turning the corner’ is underpinned by the investments and sacrifices we have
collectively made during this difficult period since March 2020,” he added.
Mr Ofori-Atta further said that it is important that we acknowledge some of the major milestones that this country has experienced in the last 3 years.
“We should be still and appreciate that despite our challenges as a country, we have been saved from many extreme conditions that others have suffered, including peace, health, security, continuous supply of power, and life itself, amongst others.
“Over that period, the country has gone through extremely difficult situations, and
the gratitude of His Excellency the President and his government goes to the good
people of Ghana for their patience, understanding and positive contributions to
Government’s efforts to weather the storm.”