News:
November 30, 2014
The Member of Parliament for Daboya/Mankarigu constituency, Baani Abudu Nelson says the 2015 Budget and Economic Policy will be a springboard to Ghana’s economic prosperity.
According to him, “the comprehensive strategies and economic programmes captured in the Budget, would help pace up the development agenda”.
He added: “the Budget had prospects and a bright future”, and Ghanaians must help to effectively implement it.
Mr. Abudu Nelson who is also a tax expert, commended government for removing duties on the importation of mobile phones, VAT on locally produced pharmaceuticals and inputs for publishing books. He noted that such measures will help open up local industries and help tilt the country gradually into an export-driven economy.
He also estimated that all things being equal, the Energy sector will see a massive turn around as he touted several projects identified in the 2015 Budget statement.
For him, the one unit (110MW) of the Kpone Thermal Power Plant expected to commence by end of year with commercial operations for the entire 220MW starting by first quarter 2015, as well as an additional 770MW from thermal sources and 33.5MW from renewable energy sources to be installed amongst other intensive projects were all structured plans to prove results with, in the energy sector.
He said the projected growth in the Industry sector is possible through the key projects to be covered by government in the energy and petroleum sector.
According to him, government’s commitment is critically “even across-board in all the sectors in respect of the policies and programmes which had been forecasted in the budget.
However, he advised Ghanaians to exercise restraint with the new 17.5 % tax introduced by government on petroleum products.
The MP stressed that the NDC government under the watch of President John Dramani Mahama had a sterling record of social responsibility, hence was optimistic that the government will cushion citizens with safety policies to mitigate any economic hardship.
Jonathan Adjei/Ghanamps.gov.gh