Oppong Nkrumah demands accountability for GH¢650bn allocated to government economic programmes

Ranking Member on Parliament’s Economy and Development Committee, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has urged the government to account for funds allocated to its existing economic programmes before introducing a proposed “new economy” in the 2027 Budget.

According to him, Parliament allocated about GH¢650 billion to support the government’s various economic programmes, including the 24-hour economy, the One Million Coders programme, the Women’s Development Bank and Nkokonkitinkiti, among others.

He said the government must first demonstrate the results achieved from these programmes before shifting its focus to a new economic agenda.

“We have appropriated GH¢650 billion for them to achieve these economic objectives. Two years on, they haven’t accounted for the results of all of this.Account for the about GH¢650 billion we have given them to fulfil these programmes,” he said.

Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse, Mr Oppong Nkrumah said the government’s economic programmes were part of commitments made to Ghanaians and therefore required accountability.

He cited the 24-hour economy, which he said was presented to Ghanaians with a promise of creating one job through three shifts involving three people. However, he questioned the progress made in implementing the policy.

“24-hour economy is still a hoax. There is no one-three-shift system happening anywhere,” he said.

He also raised concerns about the One Million Coders programme, the Women’s Development Bank and other initiatives, arguing that the government had not provided sufficient evidence of the results achieved.

Mr Oppong Nkrumah said announcing a new economic programme without accounting for existing commitments amounted to shifting attention away from programmes that had already been presented to Ghanaians.

He therefore called on the government to account for the resources allocated to its existing programmes before proceeding with its proposed “new economy.”

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