Member of Parliament for Ofoase- Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah
The Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has criticized the government for failing to allocate sufficient funds for its planned infrastructure project, “The Big Push.”
Addressing a press conference in Parliament on Wednesday, March 13, 2025, he expressed concerns over the budgetary shortfall for the project.
“Infrastructure investments are known to be key if you want to open up and grow the economy, creating more jobs. Unfortunately, however, the government has failed to make the necessary budget allocations to give meaning to even its own planned infrastructure program.
“Their planned infrastructure program is The Big Push—a $10 billion initiative. If you prorate it over four years, that’s about GH¢2.5 billion or $2.5 billion per annum. You would expect that if the government is serious about its own Big Push, it would allocate $2.5 billion in the first budget. They have all the goodwill and credibility. Yet, if you examine the fiscal tables, it’s only $800 million, which is less than $1 billion,”* he stated.
According to him, without the necessary financial commitments, the program might not achieve its intended objectives.
“The Big Push itself needs a push, or nothing meaningful will happen in their infrastructure program. Infrastructure investments are key to opening up and growing the economy while creating more jobs. Unfortunately, the government has failed to make the necessary budget allocations to give meaning to even its own planned infrastructure program.
“Their planned infrastructure program, The Big Push, is $10 billion. If you prorate it over four years, that’s about GH¢2.5 billion or $2.5 billion per annum. You would expect that if the government were serious about its own Big Push, it would allocate $2.5 billion in its first budget. They have all the goodwill and credibility. Yet, if you look at the fiscal tables, it’s only $800 million, which is less than $1 billion,”* he reiterated.
Presenting the 2025 Budget and Economic Policy in Parliament on Tuesday, March 13, 2025, the Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, stated that the government had allocated GH¢13.85 billion to The Big Push program.
The program is designed to drive economic transformation by funding large-scale infrastructure projects across the country.
JKB/MA
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