UCEW-Kumasi Campus TESCON commends budget

Kumasi, March 2, GNA - The Tertiary Students Confederacy (TESCON) of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of the University of Education Winneba (Kumasi Campus), has congratulated Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning for what it described as a splendid budget.

According to a statement issued by TESCON in Kumasi on Tuesday and signed by its President, George Mireku Duker, the group was gratified that the budget emphasised the country's accelerated growth geared towards the strengthening of the role of the private sector in economic development.

"We are also happy that the government would increase its spending to improve education, health and nutrition of the poorest households", the statement said.

The situation whereby corporate tax scheduled to be reduced from 32.5 per cent to 30 per cent in 2005 had been further reduced in the same year to 28 per cent and to be further lowered to 25 per cent in 2007 must be appreciated by all Ghanaians.

The statement also commended the government for being the only regime, which had been sincere enough to check the expenditure incurred by the state on utilities in its budget.

"We also welcome the idea of the Metro Mass Transit System, which is to be expanded to cover all regional capitals.

"We will still call this budget a budget of hope because of the indicators already mentioned and urge the government to only take constructive criticisms from the opposition in order not to lose focus", the statement added.