The government's 2024 budget, according to Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, is intended to combine and finish current infrastructure projects around the nation.
Approximately eighty percent of road contractors have abandoned sites as a result of the government's lack of commitment to paying off debt, as the Minority lamented after the Finance Minister presented the budget on Wednesday, November 15, 2023.
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta stated during the post-budget workshop in Parliament that the government will see to it that contract debts are settled in order to clear the path for the subsequent execution of these projects.
In order to preserve recent macroeconomic gains, expand investments to implement the new growth strategy, chart a new course, consolidate and finish ongoing projects to improve productivity and welfare, and mobilize climate finance to enable us to build resilience and promote climate-sensitive growth, the 2024 budget has been prepared.
With regard to the growth provision in this budget, which includes the payment of road arrears, the government wishes to show that it is committed to constructing a strong infrastructure network. We have allocated for arrears clearance on statutory money.
However, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader, predicts that in 2024, the government will likely launch projects quickly without specific financial sources in order to fulfill unforeseen campaign pledges.
In election years, "spending excessively is the norm; unplanned campaign promises are quickly fulfilled without dedicated funding sources, and organized labor is guaranteed better working conditions without consideration for the effect on the wage bill."
