2018 Budget: Government is struggling – Spio-Garbrah

Former Trade Minister, Dr Ekow Spio-Garbrah has challenged the government’s claim that it has restored the ailing economy.

Presenting the government’s 2018 budget statement and economic policy statement Wednesday, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta flaunted that over the past 10-month, the Akufo-Addo-led administration delivered on its promises, adding 2018 will witness major transformation.

“We promised to pursue policies that will create jobs in the economy and we are delivering. This budget, by the grace of God, will deliver massively on jobs!” he assured.

He further averred it took a miracle for the government “to perform” over the last 10 months because they “inherited little from the Mahama Government.”

But commenting on the 2018 budget in an interview with Starr News’ parliamentary correspondent, Ibrahim Alhassan, Mr. Spio-Garbrah dismissed the finance Minister’s claim as facade despite commending the Akufo-Addo government for its performance on the macroeconomic front.

“On the law and order issue, they are very low, on trying to deal with the macro-economy in terms of just bringing the numbers down; inflation rate, deficits etc, they are doing better than the NDC had done,” the NDC presidential candidate hopeful told Bola Ray on Starr Chat on November 1, 2017.

However in the interview with Alhassan, Mr. Spio-Garbrah traversed a different course claiming: “…NPP is struggling.”

“They made many promises to Ghanaians and they are not able to fulfil their promises,” he asserted. He said for the government to succeed it has to roll back some of the promises made to Ghanaians and also desist from making new ones.