Oooh! So, Mr. Ofori-Atta is not immune to threats?
Because he was able to parry all the threats by NPP MPs to the effect that they will not do any business with him if he did not resign, I surmised that he has acquired the dead goat syndrome.
However, the alacrity with which he acted in reaction to the threat issued by MP for Odododiodioo, Nii Lante Vanderpuiye, points to the fact that some threats may be more potent than others.
In my article titled, ‘Stalled La General Hospital – Any word from Ga chiefs?’, I pointed to a warning by Hon. Nii Lante. “I have served a warning through the Speaker to the Minister of Finance, that on the day that he will come to Parliament to read the budget, God should save him if he has La General Hospital captured under the projects. Other than that, he will not have the opportunity to present his budget. Because, I want to prove to them that they cannot sit on the land of the people of Ga- Adangbe and treat us with contempt,” he cautioned.
From Eric’s Diary: Stalled La General Hospital project- Any word from Ga chiefs?
Knowing how prayerful Mr. Ofori-Atta is, I can state without equivocation that God saved him from the threat of a Ga native. You may be aware of the proverb that says, ‘when a blind man says he will pelt a stone at you, it means, he has his foot on one already.’ Similarly, if a Ga man says “he will not have the opportunity to present his budget,” you take it for granted at your own risk.
So, it came to pass that in the 2024 budget presented to Parliament on November 15, 2023, the Minister of Finance found space for the La General Hospital Project. “Mr. Speaker, Government has renegotiated the contract terms of the La General Hospital Project and will now be funded through the national budget. The contractor is expected back on site next week to complete a significant amount of work by 2024,” he assured.
This followed an earlier statement made before Parliament by the Minister of Health, Mr Kwaku Agyemang Manu. “At the 37th session of the Cabinet, the President directed the Ministers of Trade and Industry, Health and Finance to find alternative sources of funding to recommence the project. Through the efforts of the three-man committee, the Minister of Finance has now identified funds locally to continue the project with the same simple work scope, but a reviewed price of €50 million,” the Minister of Health said.
Evidently, as a result of Nii Lante’s warning, or so it seems, we did not only get an opportunity to resume the project, we saved the tax payer an amount of €10 million.
I guess it will not be out of place for me to also take some credit for bringing the issue to government’s front burner through Eric’s Diary- written by the Ghana Journalists Association’s reigning Columnist. You can roll your eyes a bit to that. Lol.
And it’s not just the La General Hospital which I wrote about that has received attention in the 2024 budget. The high cost of sanitary pad, caused by high tax rates, which I complained about in my article titled “Using diapers as sanitary pad- the doing of a NADAA economy” also received attention in next year’s budget.
Here are excerpts; “Indeed, it is the case that the government has imposed a 20 per cent import levy and a 15 per cent Value Added Tax on the ‘period’ absorbing pads. This has made it very expensive, thus unaffordable to many menstruating girls and their older versions- women.
From what my wife tells me, the brand that costs the least is now being sold at GHC12.00. The popular ones such as YAZZ and SOFTCARE are going for between GHC20.00 and GHC25.00. The packets of pads contain a maximum of 7 pads. Given that one needs to change the pads at least thrice a day, depending on the level of blood flow, a minimum of 15 pads are required for the 5-day menses.
From Eric’s Diary: Using diapers as sanitary pad- the doing of a NADAA economy
The implication is that for a comfortable hygienic way of managing menstruation, one requires at least GHC24.00 cedis a month for sanitary pads. This question then hit me- how are the numerous female street hawkers able to manage their menses hygienically? Then the answer came in a news story I watched on 3 News TV on YouTube – women resort to using diapers due to the high cost of sanitary pads.
I, therefore, add my voice to the call for a rethink with regard to the tax on sanitary pads in order to make them affordable to our girls and women. That’s because the sanitary pad serves the purpose of sanitizing our gateway into this world for an infection-free passage. Wherefore I say, NADAA, please remove taxes on sanitary pads now.”
That was on June 13, 2023. Then on November 15, 2023 Mr. Ofori-Atta announced, “Mr. Speaker, further to the above, the following reliefs have been prioritised for implementation: … Zero rate VAT on locally produced sanitary pads…waiver of import duty tax on raw materials for the production of sanitary pads.” Hurray!!!
It is worth noting though, that the advocates for removal of tax on sanitary pads are not satisfied with the turn of events, “It’s a good thing that there is no tax on pads, but we don’t have many local producers. On the face of it, it looks like we’ve made progress, but the question is to what degree? Really, how tangible is that? A lot of the pads we use are imported. Our biggest demand was reclassification of pads as essential, not luxury. Let’s just reclassify. Its’s really that simple.” Ama Pratt, Spokesperson of CSOs against tax on sanitary pad said on TV3’s Ghana Tonight Show on Friday, November, 17, 2023.
“It’s about affordability and accessibility and that has still not happened,” she stressed.
Well, you may say this is Oliver Twist asking for more. I say these are girls and women asking for support to manage a natural flow. Let’s give it to them.
Now to the Volta Region. “It is heartwarming to acknowledge that government has made a specific commitment of GHS220million for the relief phase as contained in the 2024 Budget to address the devastation caused by the recent VRA-induced floods.
“…May all these assurances translate into actual releases for adequate resettlement and compensation of my beloved constituents plus all those affected in other constituencies,” the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, tweeted. Ei! Do we still tweet? Posted above message on X after Mr. Ofori-Atta announced in Parliament that GHC220million has been budgeted to ease the pain of victims of flood caused by water spilled from the Akosombo and Kong dams.
Here is what the Minister of Finance told Parliament that elicited Mr. Ablakwa’s post, “Mr. Speaker, Government has budgeted an amount of GH¢220 million to support the relief phase for the communities affected by the Akosombo spillage as well as floods upstream in the Oti, Savannah, and Bono-East Regions. For the restoration phase, Government through the Ministry of Agriculture will allocate additional resources to support the restoration of livelihoods.”
Again, yours truly feels listened to, because in the Eric’s Diary of October 19, 2023, titled, ”Life’s Snakes and Ladders nature- How VRA’s water spillage can bring one down,” I wrote “ …And what is the call for government to declare a state of emergency in the affected areas about? Is the situation as it is not a state of emergency in itself? What needs to be done is for state actors to start acting accordingly before things get out of hand.”
From Eric’s Diary: Life’s Snakes and Ladders nature- How VRA’s water spillage can bring one down
Although belated, like Mr. Ablakwa, I cherish the fact that government has finally acted in the manner that it should have done in October when the disaster struck. What remains to be seen is whether the skepticism with regard to the timely release of the money, as expressed by Mr. Ablakwa, will be negated. I am watching and listening.
In your personal economy, do you feel Nkunim or Ahokyir3?
Meanwhile, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta is in celebratory mode. That’s because he says the economy has turned the corner. So, the 2024 Financial Estimates and Policy Statement is called ‘Nkunim’ (Victory) Budget.
Hm! I am not a psychic, but there are certain words that when I hear people use, give me an inkling into their psyche. So, when Mr. Ofori-Atta and his team decided to describe the budget as ‘Nkunim’, I could bet my last pesewa that, it was an acknowledgement that he has been struggling to manage the economy.
And although he, initially, did not want to seek a bailout from the IMF, on hind sight, he is grateful to God for granting him the spirit of humility to eat humble pie in order to lead the process personally. This is evident in his introductory statements before presenting the budget.
“…I want to express my profound gratitude to God for his grace, mercy and favour toward our Nation. Together with the Psalmist, let us say “Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits” [Psalm 103:1-2].”
The other evidence I have to show, that the Minister of Finance and his team concede to being under immense pressure in managing the economy, is the celebratory Guard of Honour that was held in his honour by the whipped-in-line staff of the Ministry. And what apt song to use for the celebration than Tagoe Sisters’ chart topping, ‘Ye di nkunim.’
Before he left Parliament to receive that pomp-filled welcome, the Minority Leader, Cassiel Ato Forson gave Uncle Ken an earful. “Mr. Speaker, this is a true definition of a useless budget…. this budget is insensitive and out of touch. This government is leaving behind an economy that is over-taxed. In fact, you are leaving behind a misery economy. In other words, ‘Ahokyir3’ (Hardship) economy,” the MP for Ajumako Enyan Esiam Constituency said.
In this instance, I will not rely on my supposed psychic prowess. That’s because Mr Ato Forson’s use of ‘Ahokyir3’ does not in any way represent his state of being- not with all the perks that come with being Minority Leader in Ghana.
What I can say for sure is that, as the representative of his people, the statement he made was a relay of messages the constituents have drummed into his mind. And that is the reality for many Ghanaians- ‘Ahokyir3.’ We express it in various forms- times are hard, things are tough and ‘Kromu ay3hyi.’
It’s time to go
Well, it is rumoured that the hero’s welcome accorded Mr Ofori-Atta by his staff is evidence that he will resign in the coming days.
This was disclosed by Mr Ato Forson, who attributed the information to his colleagues on the other side of the aisle- NPP MPs. If this revelation is anything to go by, then this is another opportunity for Mr. Ofori-Atta to show that he listens.
That’s because we were told by the MPs who demanded his resignation that they were assured of his exit after the IMF deal. Now that the deal has been struck with second tranche in the offing, the time is apt for uncle Ken to listen to the numerous calls to resign and vacate the Finance Ministry portfolio.
Some have asked to what end? When the government has barely 12 months to exhaust its tenure. Wearing my PR lenses, I say it will do something small, positively, to Mr Ofori-Atta’s image. It may even rub off President Akufo-Addo. Especially so, if his replacement is unable to do much to change our economic fortunes by December, 2024. Which is highly possible.
That is why it will gladden my heart to wake up one of these mornings, tune in to the 6:00am news on 3FM, and hear that, ‘The Finance Minister, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta has resigned….” My reaction will be- And Ofori-Atta listened.
Adeus – That’s goodbye in Portuguese.
Let God lead! Follow Him directly, not through any human.
The writer is the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Columnist of the Year- 2022. He is the author of two books whose contents share knowledge on how anyone desirous of writing like him can do so. Eric can be reached via email [email protected].