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NPP
January 15, 2014
THE ECONOMY IN 2013-----
HOW DID WE FARE
Ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters last week the
NDC led government held a forum in attempt to explain
how the so called BETTER GHANA was manifested in 2013.
The speakers at that forum included HON Okudzeto Ablakwa,
HON Omane Boamah, HON FIFI kwetey and HON Hannah Tetteh.
If you listened carefully to all of them you would get
the impression that in the context of the Better Ghana
agenda, all is well in Ghana.
The President followed the next day with a Press
Conference in which he sought to answer questions from
journalists. In fairness to the President, he was a bit
more moderate and acknowledged the challenges that we
had gone through in 2013 and in fact he even refused to
grade himself when he was asked to do so.
We are here not to respond directly to what was said at
the forum nor at the press conference but to remind
Ghanaians of what we all experienced in 2013, lest we
forget. In a few weeks the President as mandated by the
constitution will go to Parliament to give an account of
the state of the nation. At that time we will let
Ghanaians also know of our views on the true state of
the nation.
For today we want to remind Ghanaians in brief terms how
the economy of Ghana performed in 2013 and how such
performance affected our daily lives. You may recall
that the economy in 2012 ended with one of the highest
twin deficits on record of about 12 % of GDP on the
fiscal and current accounts deficits a record
over-expenditure of over GHC 8 billion cedis
FISCAL POLICY
Against this background the Minister responsible for
Finance presented a budget in March 2013 in which he
promised in the course of the year to bring new tax
proposals to attempt to improve the fiscal situation.
Ladies and Gentlemen true to his word 2013 is the year
in which you will new tax proposals on condoms,
cutlasses, fishing nets wellington boots, among others
were introduced . During the latter part of the year
2013, in a rather unorthodox fashion the VAT rate was
increased from 12.5 % to 15 % but to be made effective
in 2014. Is This is a manifestation of the Better Ghana
Agenda?.
In any case notwithstanding all these efforts to impose
additional taxes on Ghanaians the fiscal deficit for
2013 is still very high, projected at 10.2 %of GDP but
likely to exceed 11 % of GDP when the final figures are
in. In 2013 simply put Government lived beyond it means
by an additional GHC 9 billion cedis.
In an attempt to further improve the fiscal situation
the NDC social democratic government in 2013, you will
recall partially removed the subsidies on petroleum
prices resulting in an increase in pump prices of all
petroleum products and a consequent increase in
transportation costs. Is this a manifestation of a
better Ghana Agenda?
Increase in Fees and Levies
Ladies and Gentlemen in 2013 fees and levies were
increased by over 200 %. You will recall that the Korle
Bu teaching Hospital in haste to implement the
initiative started charging higher fees even before it
became lawful- a clear manifestation of the difficulties
faced by service providers in 2013.
ARREARS ACCUMULATION
Delays in the payment of statutory funds hhave become a
regular feature of the economic management strategy of
the NDC government since 2009. Ladies and gentlemen the
year 2013 was no exception. In fiscal year 2013 there
was further accumulation of arrears in DACF( GHC 450
million),GETFUND (GHC 240 million), NHIF (GHC151
million), SSNIT contributions by government (GHC 695
million)
Together these amount to over GHC 1.5 billion. This does
not include arrears owed to road contractors, salary
arrears owed to public sector workers, arrears owed to
suppliers of goods and services to government agencies
including the security services and secondary
institutions as well as caterers for the school feeding
program. Is this a manifestation of the Better Ghana
Agenda?.
REMOVAL OF UTILITY TARIFFS.
You will recall ladies and gentlemen that 2013 was one
year in which Ghanaians experienced one of the worst
episodes of the dumso-dumso phenomenon. A consumers and
businesses were trying to adjust to the severe energy
crisis, the government (through the PURC) responded by
increasing electricity and water tariffs. The initial
increases were so high that it was met with protests by
many stakeholders including the TUC. Accordingly
government as it were ‘reduced the increase to around 59
% but promised to bring it back in 2014.
True to its word Government has welcomed us to a’ happy
new year’, by increasing electricity tariffs by an
additional 9 % this month. Is this a manifestation of
the Better Ghana Agenda?
PUBLIC DEBT
In 2013, government borrowed at least GH¢1.2 billion
almost every month from domestic sources, so that by the
end of 2013 our total debt stock stood at over $23
billion rising significantly from a stock of only $8
billion in 2008. The result is that in fiscal year 2013
alone, payment of interest on our debt amounted to over
GH¢4.4 billion more than the amount spent on DACF,
GETFUND and NHIS put together. Is this a manifestation
of the better Ghana agenda?
INFLATION
Ladies and gentlemen in 2013 inflation has been in
double digits reaching 13.2% in November, while public
sector workers were given an increase of only 10%, not
even to keep up inflation. And to make matters worse the
government in the budget statement proposed a wage
freeze for 2014. Is this really a manifestation of the
better Ghana agenda?
CEDI DEPRECIATION
Ladies and gentlemen in 2013 the Ghana cedi depreciated
by almost 24% against the dollar. It is important to
note that Hon. Fifi Kwetey in his address at the NDC
forum said that the Ghana cedi had depreciated by only
5% against the dollar. We only hope that this was a slip
of tongue from the former propaganda secretary of the
NDC.
ADVERSE TERMS OF TRADE
In 2013 also Ghana experienced an adverse terms of trade
when the international prices of two of our major export
commodities, gold and cocoa, declined significantly.
This weakened our capacity to accumulate foreign
exchange reserves, thereby putting more pressure on the
Ghana cedi.
CREDIT RATING
Finally, Ladies and gentlemen in the fiscal year 2013
all the three major credit rating agencies, Fitch,
Moody’s and Standard and Poor downgraded Ghana’s
sovereign credit rating. This means that when we go to
the international capital market to borrow we will have
to pay a higher risk premium.
Ladies and gentlemen, I have given you a summary of
economic indicators for 2013 just so we do not forget
the realities.
The question we need to ask is so for the average
Ghanaian, what was the combined effect of all these
economic indicators on our daily lives in 2013?
The answer in simple terms is that in 2013, the average
Ghanaian found life very difficult because:
• Parents in 2013 had a hard time paying school fees
• Individuals and businesses struggled to pay higher
utility bills
• Ghanaian consumer’s confidence declined
• Ghanaian businesses struggled to deal with the
dumso-dumso phenomenon
• The cost of doing business increased
• Business confidence declined
• Contractors were not paid
• Service providers including school feeding caterers
were not paid
• Public workers were paid but had no work to do
• Teacher trainee allowances were stopped
• Workers experienced salary arrears and were threatened
with a freeze on wages
• Importers were faced with higher tariffs
• Because of arrears in DACF, developmental projects in
the MMDA’s came to a stop
• The National Health Insurance faced severe challenges
because of arrears
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is how Ghanaians were
challenged in the year 2013. Whether or not this is a
manifestation of a better Ghana Agenda is for Ghanaians
to judge.
2014
As we begin the year 2014, the obvious question to ask
is what does the year 2014 have in store for us?
To start with, we started this year with an increase in
utility tariffs and when Ghanaians were crying, a
Minister of State is reported to have said “if you can’t
pay, turn it off”, a better Ghana agenda indeed.
Just last week the increase in VAT became effective and
prices of goods and services have already gone up.
Ladies and gentlemen, this year, every month from
January to September the government through the PURC has
signaled that tariffs on utilities will be increased.
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has also signaled
that the automatic adjustment formula for petroleum
products will be fully operational this year 2014. This
is in addition to the increase in the road levy which
has just been introduced. The implications for higher
pump prices and its consequent impacts are obvious.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the increase in fees and levies,
some by over 200% have already become operational as
hospitals such a Korle-Bu have already advertised an
increase in their fees.
Fellow Ghanaians, the personal income thresholds which
were raised in previous years to protect low income
earners as well as compensate for inflation have been
frozen in 2014.
The mining sector which shed jobs in 2013 is faced with
an imminent windfall profit tax in the face of declining
gold prices.
Withhold tax on rent for commercial properties have been
increase to 15%.
Fellow Ghanaians, these are a few of the policy measures
which have been approved by Parliament for the fiscal
year 2014. Unless government intends to propose other
policy intervention in the course of the year, then on
the basis of the last poor performance on revenues and
excessive over-expenditures since 2009, we predict that
the year 2014 is likely to bring as many challenges to
the average Ghanaian as the year 2013 did.
Ladies and Gentlemen, to conclude, I want to touch on a
matter which has also engaged the attention of the
President and Ghanaians. This relates to the CDB
(Chinese loan) of $3 billion.
Mr. President, I am sure you are aware that over 75% of
this year’s capital expenditure program is funded from
foreign sources. Of this amount as much as 78% is
dependent on expected disbursements from the Chinese
loan. To be more precise, government expects that about
$1.6 billion will be disbursed from the Chinese loan
this year. But as you noted, in three years since the
loan was approved only about $600 million has been
disbursed. To ensure that these monies are disbursed
will require Presidential intervention at two levels. 1
The Commitment fee, which is pegged at 1 % of the
undisbursed balance. Thus far an amount of US$ 54 has
been paid as commitment fees . Surely this cannot be
good for Ghana. 2. Conditions precedent for disbursement
are too complicated and cumbersome, These conditions
need considerable relaxation. This matter is urgent of
extreme public interest. We will humbly advise the
President to treat as urgent.
Ladies and Gentlemen we thank you for your attention
NPP Communications Directorate
NPP Headquarters, Asylum Down. Accra.
AG. Director Communications: Curtis Perry K. Okudzeto
Mobile: +233-24-9679008
Telephone: +233-302-264329/Fax +233-302-229048
Email: nppdcom@gmail.com
Website: www.newpatrioticparty.org
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THE ECONOMY IN
2013----- HOW DID WE FARE
Release, Jan 15, Ghanadot -
We are here not to respond directly to what was
said at the forum nor at the press conference but to
remind Ghanaians of what we all experienced in 2013,
lest we forget. In a few weeks the President as mandated
by the constitution will go to Parliament to give an
account of the state of the nation. At that time we will
let Ghanaians also know of our views on the true state
of the nation.......More
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Gov't must honour Ewurama Addy
– Akosah
CitiFM, Jan 15, Ghanadot - A former Director
General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Professor
Agyemang Badu Akosah is asking the state to give the
late Professor Ewurama Addy the highest posthumous
honour of the land. ..
..
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Tribute To Prof
Marian Ewurama Addy
Tribute, Jan 15, Ghanadot
-She changed the face of science in general. As a
resource person for science education programmes in
Ghana, Prof Addy became very popular as the host of the
Science and Maths quiz television programme – Brilliant
Science and Maths Quiz. She made science simple and
exciting as subject, while setting a pace for women in
science.......
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Woyome’s two per cent
financial engineering fees not in doubt
SpyGhana, Jan 15, Ghanadot - Sometime in August
2009, however, the accused having received all monies
due him under the financial engineering services
rendered to Waterville, took advantage of the change of
government and falsely represented to government
officials that the previous government owed him money
for financial engineering services rendered to it under
the contract with Waterville.
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