Participants urge Ghanaians not to politicize Government policies

Tamale, Nov. 27, GNA - Participants at a day's forum on the 2007 Budget in Tamale on Saturday, appealed to Parliamentarians not to politicize policies and programmes initiated by Government. They said Parliamentarians should rather collaborate and fine-tune the policies and programmes to enhance socio-economic development and growth.

"Time has come for us to support Government policies and programmes rather than criticize the 2007 Budget. What we need to do now is to intensify public education on the 2007 Budget for the people to take advantage of its policies and programmes," They added. The forum was organized by Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), an NGO, to deepen the knowledge and understanding of the public on the 2007 Budget and its impact on their lives. A cross-section of the public including, civil society organisations, Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Academia, Entrepreneurs and members of associations in the Tamale Metropolis attended the forum.

Some of the participants called on political parties to de-link politics from Government policies, programmes and their implementation. They cited the National Youth Employment Programme and the National Health Insurance Scheme as laudable policies but expressed concern about over politicization that had impeded their implementation. The participants called on Government to focus on the development needs of the three Northern Regions to narrow the development gap between the south and the north.

They called on civil society organisations to institute a committee to monitor operations of the 2007 Budget to ensure that funds allocated for development projects were not diverted or misapplied. They commended Government for the bold decision to rationalise salaries and wages of workers in the country.

Some of the participants were of the opinion that rationalisation of salaries and wages when carefully implemented, would motivate workers to increase productivity and enhance socio-economic development. 27 Nov. 06