Ofoase-Ayirebi MP Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has demanded a detailed account of the GH¢650 billion he says Parliament approved through two budgets for the government’s economic programmes before it seeks additional funding for its proposed $10 billion “new economy” initiative.
The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Economy and Development Committee said the government had yet to properly account for the jobs and other results delivered by its existing programmes, including the 24-hour economy, poultry development and the one million coders initiative.
Speaking about the proposal, Oppong Nkrumah said the government must first show Ghanaians what it had achieved with the resources already made available to it.
“They haven’t even accounted for how much jobs they have created under the 24-hour economy properly so-called,” he said in a self recorded video, adding that similar questions remained about the other programmes.
He also questioned how many women had received credit through the proposed Women’s Development Bank.
“We are of the view that number one, the original programme that they campaigned on, which they were voted for, which they’ve brought to Parliament, which is yet to be adopted by Parliament, they should focus and have it adopted,” he said.
Oppong Nkrumah argued that the government should provide a proper account of the money and its programmes before asking the public to consider another economic initiative.
“There needs to be a more serious and proper accounting of it. It is when that is done and Ghanaians are satisfied that you can then talk about potentially a new economic programme,” he said.
He added that the government should be held accountable for its existing commitments before discussions on the proposed new economy proceed.
