Govt invested GH¢32.7bn to keep lights on – Ofori-Atta
The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has indicated that government has done its best in its seven years in office to keep power supply stable and lights on.
Delivering the 2024 Budget in Parliament on Wednesday, he noted that government has “invested GH¢32.7 billion to keep the lights on.”
He added that the said amount invested was also to support the growth of businesses in the country.
According to him, government has also made other investments such as investing GH¢25.3 billion to facilitate the repositioning of the financial sector and enhance its ability to assist business operations.
To date, the Development Bank Ghana has facilitated GH¢1 billion in competitive financing for the private sector, and GIRSAL continues to mitigate risks in the agriculture sector, the Finance Minister added.
Again, he said government has supported 100,000 young graduates to secure workplace experience and employment by investing GH¢2.4 billion in NABCO.
o build road and transport infrastructure to improve connectivity and productivity, Mr Ofori-Atta pointed out that another GH¢7.1 billion was invested.
He noted that government also invested GH¢541.5 million in 169 1D1F enterprises to scale-up value addition and provided 140,000 additional jobs.
He further stated that government has created over 2.3 million jobs in the private and public sectors (approximately 900,000 in the private sector and 1.4 million in the public sector).
He added that government is “determined to do more to boost the capacity of the private sector to expand productivity and create jobs.”
in addition, a provision of GH¢4 billion has been made in the 2024 Budget to address National Investment Bank (NIB), distressed SDIs, and other outstanding legacy challenges in the financial sector.
Notwithstanding the ongoing litigation commenced by shareholders Blackshield Capital Management Limited (formerly Gold Coast Securities Limited), the SEC will continue engage the Official Liquidator and clients of the defunct Blackshield to reach a 33 consensus on a framework for a bailout intervention and an amicable resolution of the impasse
Government invested over GH¢740 million to feed 3.8 million pupils, one hot meal a day in over 10,000 public basic schools.
In 2024, the Programme will continue to provide meals to enhance basic school enrollment.
