The Akufo-Addo-led government has spent GH¢20.14 billion in implementing the Free SHS, banking sector clean-up, recruitment of 100,000 Nation Builders’ Corps (NaBCo) beneficiaries and restoring teacher/nursing trainee allowances as at the end of 2019.

A breakdown of the figure includes GH¢15 billion spent in the banking sector clean-up to save depositors’ funds, GH¢2 billion annually on Free SHS, and the recruitment of 550,000 public sector workers.
Vice-President Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia announced this on Saturday in his acceptance address as President Akufo-Addo’s running mate for this year’s elections.

He mentioned the abolition of 15 ‘nuisance’ taxes, scrapping of import duties by 50%, payment of GH¢2.1 billion National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) arrears, restoration of Book and Research Allowance for university lecturers, increase in the capitation grant, and restored teacher trainee and nursing allowance as some of the achievements of government.

He added that government had reduced electricity tariffs by 10.9% compared to the 264% cumulative increment under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration, resolved the frequent power outages (dumsor) which the previous government failed to manage well, resulting in the collapse of many businesses, provided scholarships to 40 students from Zongo and inner city communities to study medicine in Cuba, free supply of water to Ghanaians for three months and subsidised electricity tariffs for residential and commercial consumers due to the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Bawumia said government had provided GH¢1 billion stimulus package for micro, small and medium-scale enterprises to support businesses, saying, “Any claim of better management of the economy must ultimately reflect in the lives of the people and reduce their sufferings”.

He indicated that available data clearly showed that the Akufo-Addo government had out-performed the NDC government, and urged Ghanaians to renew the mandate of the President for four more years to bring economic prosperity to all and efficiency in public service delivery.

He said the ruling government had fulfilled 78% of the promises it made in the 2016 electioneering campaign, and was expected to redeem more of the promises by the end of its first term in office.

“We have been able to do all these because of the visionary and strong leadership of President Akufo-Addo.
“We have managed the economy better compared to the abysmal performance of the NDC government that could not even pay GH₵60 million for teacher trainee allowance and cancelled it,” the Vice-President said.

Credit: The Finder