2012 budget should concentrate on productive sectors of the economy- Kwaku Kwarteng

Ahead of the presentation of the 2012 budget and economic policy statement of the Mills-led administration, a member of the opposition NPP, Kwaku Kwarteng, hopes today's budget presentation will put on the ground pragmatic steps to create more jobs.

Speaking to Xfm 95.1 this morning, he said the NPP expects government to set realistic goals which will give relief to underprivileged Ghanaians and ensure a better improvement in their livelihood.

The 2012 budget statement is under the theme "Infrastructure development for accelerated growth and job creation" and is aimed to address the numerous challenges facing Ghanaians and the country.

Pointing out his expectations, the NPP member insisted that government in her budget today should not formulate policies which will impose high taxes on commodities but rather devise means to attract investors into the country.

He queried the Finance Minister if the budget will address the inconsistencies concerning the biometric registration in 2012. The NPP member touched on the country's oil find and advised the government to define ways to boost the country's oil sector.

Meanwhile, the NPP Deputy Communications Director, Samuel Awuku, has asked government to implement policies which will address the economic issues facing Ghanaians and the country at large.

In his anticipation, the budget which will be read by the Finance Minister, Dr. Kwabena Duffour, should resolve the poor conditions in the lives of people, hence, alleviating the high level of poverty in the economy. "We only expect increases in the struggle towards survival as a people and as a country", he noted.

He said that "since 2009, the Mills-Mahama administration...has not presented any budget that has seen or helped, sought or seeking to reduce poverty in our country. What we have seen is an escalation in price..." He asserted that the ruling government in its operations has only added up to the economic hardship that has since been prevalent in the country.

He affirmed that the NDC government has consistently been lazing around and making blanket promises and statements without any tinge of seriousness.

Sammy Awuku reiterated that the failure of the Mills administration to establish the Volta and Brong Ahafo Universities is an addition to the government's ineffectiveness and added the government is clueless about its implementation of the one-time National Health Insurance premium.

Story by Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Xfm 95.1/Accra/Ghana