Ken Ofori-Atta, the Finance Minister, has urged Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Ranking Member of Parliament's Finance Committee, to refrain from making gloomy remarks that derail the optimism for a stronger economy.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), according to the Finance Minister, is not a dependable body to rely on when discussing steps to be implemented to salvage the Ghanaian economy.
His remark comes in response to Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson's concerns that the government's fiscal measures to save the economy and restore investor confidence will be ineffective.
"The fiscal measures presented today are purely cosmetic and empty," he remarked in a tweet. It will weaken consumer trust in the economy much further."
Mr Ofori-Atta, however, told the press on Thursday that such is not the case. "Let me be really clear about something. We would not be here if I had implemented the NDC's economic transformation plan for the country," he said.
Dr. Ato Forson, a former Deputy Finance Minister, believes that the government should put a moratorium on new loans, decrease foreign-financed projects by at least 50% by 2022, and "deliver on promise to evaluate all major initiatives."
However, the Finance Minister feels that if Dr. Ato Forson was truly devoted to restoring investor confidence, the government's revenue measures would have been passed by the Minority in Parliament.
"We've all worked together to examine how the economy was operated from 2017 to 2019, and while the impact of Covid-19 on this economy is evident, we've still been able to see it."
Is he (Ato Forson) going to take responsibility for his inability, and for his party's failure to pass our revenue measures in the House, as a result of this issue of investor confidence?"
Ghana's downgrade and inability to access the foreign market in the first quarter, according to Mr Ofori-Atta, was due to the Minority's failure to support the administration.
As a result, the minister for the sector stated, "we (government) went out with a 20% decrease, so that we can shrink our expenses and yet reach the 7.4% that we have pledged."
As a result, the Finance Minister urged Dr. Ato Forson to refrain from using "negative language," saying that such behavior "does not promote the country's spirit."
blogpay
Total Comments: 0