Cape Coast, Ghana, November 18, 2018//-Panelists at a post 2019 budget discussion at the Department of Finance , School of Business at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) have admonished the Ghanaian government not to slip into the usual temptation of going back to the things that led to an IMF engagement.
Renowned economist at the UCC, Prof John Gatsi who was the chairman of round table discussion where students and lecturers participated indicated that the history of rebasing and exit from an IMF program always led to over borrowing and return to indiscipline which later impaired economic governance.
He therefore admonished the government to see 2019 as a an opportunity to demonstrate commitment to valuable lessons over the period to avoid slippages.
Dr. William Cantah, one of the panelists recognized the relative stability of the economy and call on government to ensure efficient distribution of public funds.
He said Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) is important to reduce the psychological threat of unemployment among the youth but lacks efficiency of distribution of national revenue.
Dr Kantah contributing to the Department of Finance post budget discussion praised the macroeconomic performance but questioned the commitment of the government to domestic private sector as access to credit to private sector.
He also questioned “why World Bank statistics indicated 24% of the population being poor so why introduce Free Senior High School (SHS) for all and divert a chunk of petroleum revenue to finance the program” Dr Kantah.
Mr. Seyram Kawor who was also a panelist encouraged Ghanaians to register for their Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs) to help in tax administration reforms but warned that the government is losing its acclaimed flexible orientation to businesses.
Contributions from the students showed that the commitment by the government to the development of indigenous businesses is not back by evidence in the face of the continuous collapse of Ghanaian owed businesses.
They complained that government elaborates support for foreign automobile companies in the budget but show no commitment to Kantanka Motors.
Dr. Samuel Dadzie , a panelist and agricultural economist welcomed the new model to the Planting for Food and Jobs but advised the government to improve implementation of the program to deal with limitation of productivity and ensure enhanced contribution to the economy.
The panelists called for commitment to the infrastructure plan for 2019. During question time students called for inclusion as panelists for the 2020 budget discussion.
African Eye Report
