Govt working hard to stabilise cedi

The Ghanaian Government says the major task ahead is to reduce inflation, stabilise the cedi and ensure the growth of the economy so that poverty could be reduced.

''Effective and efficient mechanisms have been put in place to increase the collection of revenue so that dependence on foreign donors can be minimized,'' Finance Minister, Yaw Osafo-Maafo said in Accra.

He was speaking at the close of a three-day workshop organised by the Department for International Development (DFID) and sponsored by British High Commission. It was under the theme: "How can Ghana Achieve Growth and Prosperity."

Mr. Osafo-Maafo said the ministry had taken measures to monitor and curb mismanagement of funds especially revenue collection agencies. ''Three per cent of the total revenue they will collect shall be given to them to serve as an incentive to ginger them on to work hard.''

He commended the British High Commission and DFID for sponsoring and organising the workshop, respectively, and pledged that he would put the recommendations of the participants before Cabinet for study.

The Minority spokesman on Finance Mr. Moses Asaga said if the government implemented policies contained in the budget the per-capita income of 1,000 dollars Ghanaians are yearning for could be achieved in the years ahead.

He spoke about the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of 4.5 per cent and expressed the hope that it could go up to 5.5 per cent next year provided Ghanaians worked hard.