GHS 28.3bn used to improve quality of life of Ghanaians in the last 6 years – Ofori-Atta says
Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, says some GHS 28.3bn has been mobilised and invested by government to improve the quality of life of Ghanaians over the last six (6) years.
Making the assertion during his Censure Hearing on Friday, November 18, 2022, the Minister averred government has undertaken major transformative flagship programmes that have improved social mobility and quality of life.
According to the Finance Minister, the GHS 28.3bn have been invested in the following programmes:
a) Supporting 1,765,977 Ghanaian students under Free SHS/TVET to promote human Capital Development and social mobility.
b) Enrolling 15,656,160 Ghanaians aged 15years and above on the National Identification Programme by Sept, 2021 to enhance security and economic efficiency.
c) support about 100,000 Young graduates to enter the job market.
d) Providing needed infrastructure to support decentralization and local governance to expand access to public services under the Regional Reorganisation programme.
e) Promoting the development of railway network to advance national and regional connectivity
f) Supporting the on-going construction of fishing harbours to service key coastal communities including Axim, Dixcove, Moree, Mumford, Winneba, Senya Bereku, Gomoa Feteh,Teshie and James Town.
g) Increasing School Feeding beneficiaries from 1,677,322 in 2016 to 3,300,000 pupils in 2021.
h) Increasing LEAP beneficiaries from 195,860 households in 2017 to 344,023 in 2021 to improve the livelihoods of for the underprivileged in our society.
i) Increasing food production and security through Planting for Food and Jobs. It has led to a 71% increase in the national production of maize and 34% in paddy rice.
j) We have invested significantly in retooling the security sector to maintain territorial integrity and improve internal security (CCTV, motor bicycles, vehicles, Forward Operating Bases, recruitment of security personnel etc);
k) We have recruited over 200,000 Ghanaians into crucial service areas such as Education, Health, Security and Local Government; and
l) Established a Tree Crop Development Authority with a focus on mango, cashew, rubber, oil palm, shea and coconut, in order to diversify our economy and provide raw materials for industrialisation.
“These and many more we have done,” he added.