Editorial
Revitalising economy in COVID-19
The budget for the year 2021 was presented on Friday, March 12, 2021, under the theme, “Economic Revitalisation through Completion, Consolidation and continuity”.
The theme focuses on the need to complete all previously initiated projects, consolidate the economy and continue with new programmes for the benefit of the people.
The health sector is important and so we cannot joke with Agenda 111 which seeks to build district hospitals for many of the districts as well as regional hospitals for regions that do not have such facilities.
We need to make sound use of every resource that we can lay our hands on for the rebuilding of the economy.
This explains why the increase in road tolls is a step in the right direction and must be embraced or made acceptable by individuals and groups of people in the country. If more revenue is not raised in this way, not much can be achieved since developments require more revenue.
Property rates for example are not paid by many people and this is not good in terms of revenue mobilisation for national development.
In view of this, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies are expected to work hard along this line so that as much revenue as possible can be realised for national development.
The objectives of the budget are good so we need to ensure its implementation in an efficient way.
Indeed, real economy is expected to grow by five per cent (5%) this year. This is not beyond reach but as a country we need to work harder with revenue mobilisation in all sectors of the economy.
The performance of the economy, began well in 2017 but this has been slowed down by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The revenue of the Government of Ghana dropped by 13.6 billion Ghana Cedis. The result of this was very unpleasant because it devastated the economy and slowed down the level of progress that could have been attained.
To ensure that things moved on well, government provided support for small businesses and also for the people in form of free water, electricity and provision of food.
All these became a drain on the economy but they were necessary to support the people to recover from the devastation.
The challenge facing the country today includes the need to increase spending for social services for all groups of people and also presenting a consolidated picture of funding allocations on key services. If these are done, it will help rapid socio-economic development and thereby lead to the realisation of the Ghana Beyond Aid strategy in line with the vision of the President of the Republic.
Ghana as a country cannot relax at this point in time but should continue with the good works being done in all sectors of the economy and this explains why all hands must be on deck to provide support for the Akufo-Addo administration to succeed in the interest of national development.
It is also important for all economic saboteurs who have misapplied or embezzled funds to be investigated and sent to court for prosecution to serve as a deterrent to others.
This way, resources can be saved for the promotion of socio-economic development.
Dear Editor,
It is often said that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. However, this saying becomes worrying when the health of citizens is threatened by the conditions under which the food they consume daily is sold.
In Ghana, the conditions under which food is sold is quite disturbing. Over the years, I have observed that the environments where food is prepared and sold are often unhygienic.
In many cases, containers holding food such as rice and waakye are left uncovered or not properly covered, exposing them to contamination.
While many Ghanaians paid little attention in the past to the conditions under which food was sold, the narrative seems to be changing in recent years.
I recall an incident during my days in Senior High School (S.H.S.) when my friends and I went out to buy food. At one location, some of us chose not to buy because we assumed the food would be expensive due to how neat the place looked.
Unfortunately, we ended up purchasing food from a different place that was somewhat unhygienic. We overlooked the poor conditions because we believed the quantity offered was better than at the cleaner location.
However, I am certain that my friends and I would not repeat such a mistake today, as we now understand the health implications of that decision.
While public education is important in addressing this issue, I believe it is time for regulatory and law enforcement agencies, such as the Food and Drug Authority (FDA), to crack the whip on food sellers and vendors who operate in unhygienic environments and conditions.
As citizens, we must also be mindful of where we buy our food to protect ourselves and our families from diseases and illnesses. We should choose ‘quality’ over ‘quantity’ and prioritize our health.
From Syram
Oyarifa
Dear Editor,
I write to express concern and call for improved security measures before and after every football match.
The recent robbery attack that led to the tragic death of a player, on their return from a Match day 29 game against Samartex, is both shocking and heartbreaking.
The incident, which reportedly occurred around 10:30 p.m., highlights the growing risks faced by players and team officials while traveling.
Football is meant to unite and entertain, not to expose lives to danger. It is therefore imperative that authorities, the Ghana Football Association, and security agencies put in place adequate protection for teams, especially during late-night travels.
I strongly urge all stakeholders to treat this matter with urgency to prevent such unfortunate incidents from recurring.
From Eugene Ampiaw
Accra
