Greater Accra Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) Ade Coker says Ghanaians should stop lamenting about the state of the economy.
Speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo", Ade Coker chided critics for holding the neck of the government despite efforts to ensure economic stability.
He was speaking in relation to the mid-year budget review statement delivered by Finance Minister Seth Tekper on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday.
The Sector Minister confirmed to the House that the country's public budget deficit stands at GHC 90 billion.
“Mr. Speaker, Ghana’s total public debt stock, which stood at GH¢53.1 billion (US$24.5 billion) as at end-December 2013, increased to GH¢79.6 billion (US$24.8 billion) at the end of December 2014. Of the total public debt stock, external debt was GH¢44.5 billion (US$13.9 billion) while domestic debt amounted to GH¢35.0 billion (US$10.9 billion), representing 55.96 percent and 44.04 percent of total debt stock, respectively.
“Mr. Speaker, the provisional debt stock as at end May, 2015 stood at GH¢90.0 billion representing 67.53 percent of GDP. This was made up of GH¢53.8 billion and GH¢36.2 billion for external and domestic debt, respectively,” he revealed.
He however held that the country's overall real GDP growth has now taken a downward trend to 3.5 percent.
But speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi, Ade Coker was hopeful the economy will see a major boost under the Mahama administration.
To him, the Minister's budget review is not a novelty since successive administrations have all been met with challenges in their governance systems and at one point in time, gone back to Parliament to seek approval for additional spending.
“Sometimes the hypocrisy in this country is very disturbing. Do you know the first time the government has set targets and not been able to achieved them? It has happened in almost every government because of the paradigm shift...when you have 40 percent of your budget support coming from outside sources that is what happens....Your revenue base here is even very low.
“There’s a positive way…This country is on track. The challenges are there but the way we handle the challenges; that is when it becomes very important. But when we come and sit every day and we start lamenting…are you happy about it?”
The NDC Regional Chairman further cautioned politicians and critics not to play partisan politics with national issues.
“What we have to do as a nation is to stop the partisan politics and that is what is killing us…I’m sorry, but its the truth and it’s wrong,” he added. |
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