The decision of President John Mahama, his Vice and other appointees to give up 10 per cent of their salaries as part of government?s austerity measures is a Public Relations stunt, Dr. Richard Anane has said.
The Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso said the amount to be realized from the pay cuts by the government appointees was so negligible it could only serve the government?s propaganda purposes.
He was reacting to an announcement by Finance Minister, Seth Terkper, that the President and his Vice, Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, as well as all ministers had decided to take a 10% voluntary pay cut next year.
He said the money realised from the pay cut will be used to construct Community-Based Health Planning Services (CHPS) compounds, to provide maternal and neo-natal health care services to rural communities.
According to Mr. Terkper, who made the announcement in Parliament Tuesday when he presented the government?s 2014 budget and financial state, the decision was to demonstrate leadership on the part of the president and his appointees.
Dr. Anane, however, believes the president could have done more if he was committed to tangible measures that will impact positively on the economy.
?If you take the average salary of a minister, it is about GH?8,000 a month. Now 10% of that is GHC800. Even if we have a hundred ministers, you are saving GH?80,000 which is not much really,? he stated.
The former Minister for Roads, said the President should order his ministers to, like MPs do, buy their own fuel.
That, he said, would save the state substantial amounts of money
Deputy Education Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Abklakwa says the decision to remove taxes on raw materials for local printers is a boost for indigenous Ghanaian companies.
According to Mr. Ablakwa, removing the taxes will also lead to expansion of existing firms and create more jobs for the people.
Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Seth Terkper announced the tax waiver while presenting the 2014 financial policy to Parliament, Tuesday November 19, 2013.
He said government will further provide credit support for the development of Small and Medium Enterprises.
Speaking in an interview with Myjoyonline.com, Mr. Ablakwa who is also the Member of Parlimanet for North Tongu said, the announcement is a fulfillment of government’s promise to Ghanaians.
“We can now print in Ghana competitively instead of importing finished books which means exporting jobs to China and India. Certainly a boost to indigenous Ghanaian industry and job creation,” Mr. Ablakwa stated.
Meanwhile, government is to set up two modern farmers’ market to transform the way agriculture produce, especially grain, are marketed in Ghana, through the use of modern facilities and ICT.
This forms part of the decision to modernise agriculture, Mr. Terkper said.
