It’s day one after the presentation of the government’s 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to the people of Ghana through their representatives - Parliament.

As expected, the analysis has started in earnest. So has the reactions.

While motorists are hailing the government for the convenience of driving through hitherto tolled roads without traffic, spare parts dealers and business owners are complaining about the removal of the benchmark value on selected imported goods and E-levy respectively.

For the general public, there is more to learn from the ‘Agyenkwa’ budget. Here they are:

‘YouStart’ initiative to address unemployment challenge

If you are unemployed, all is not lost. The savior is here. The ‘agyenkwa’ budget has made provision for an initiative that will sort you out. It is called ‘YouStart’.

The bearer of the bad news- government’s payroll is full, that got you angry, now has a good news, “the understanding of the youth employment challenge, as well as extensive consultations with stakeholders, including youth associations and 24 educational institutions across the country, have led to the development of the ‘YouStart’ initiative which proposes to use GH¢1billion each year to catalyze an ecosystem to create 1 million jobs and in partnership with the Finance Institutions and Development Partners, raises another 2 Billion Cedis,” he said.

In addition to this, local Banks have agreed to a package that will result in increasing their SME portfolio up to GH₵5billion over the next 3 years. This, Mr. Speaker, results in an unprecedented historic GH₵10billion commitment to the private sector and ‘YouStart’ over the next 3 years,” he added.

So all ye unemployed, go ahead, start a business, celebrate, for ‘agyenkwa no aba’- the savior is here.

Benchmark values on selected imported goods removed

The NPP government touts itself as a listening government. So if it refuses to heed to caution from key stakeholders not to remove the benchmark value on selected imported goods, then the rationale for doing so is critical.

“After two and a half years of operation, the temporary benchmark (discount) policy on imports introduced as a stop-gap measure has been reviewed to make it more efficient and better targeted.

This is consistent with Government policy to promote local industry and improve foreign exchange earnings. We are committed to a programme of turning our enterprising traders into manufacturers of widgets, tools, and other machinery necessary as inputs for our industrial growth,” Ken Ofori-Atta said.

This is in spite of the fact that ahead of the reading of the budget, several associations including the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) and the Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy (GNCoP) warned of price increases should such a decision be taken.

Government to recruit 251 staff for Office of the Special Prosecutor

To those of you who have been engaging in corrupt practices, it’s time to stop. Else the Special Prosecutor, Mr. Kissi Agyebeng will come after you like ‘kakai’- scarecrow.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has been given the greenlight to recruit 251 staff across the country and they will be watching you with an eagle’s eye.

“In 2022, the OSP will focus on: the completion of the retrofitting of the new office; recruitment of 251 staff; training and resourcing of staff; investigation and prosecution of cases; asset recovery and management; and prevention of corruption through public education and stakeholder engagements,” the Finance Minister said.

“Accordingly, a total of GHC170,504,000 will be allocated to the Office to undertake its mandate in 2022,” he added. 

Government to combat climate change by implementing Ghana’s REDD+ Strategy

The effects of climate change on Ghana’s economy are becoming visible even to non-environmentalist. The unprecedented destruction caused by a storm surge in Keta and its environs recently attests to this.

According to Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, government has a strategy to combat this phenomenon. It is called Ghana’s REDD+ Strategy. It comprises five ecological landscape-tailored programmes.

“We will collaborate with the Global Centre on Adaptation, in close collaboration with the African Development Bank, in pioneering solutions on how to build durable infrastructure, and supporting African cities to guard against the impacts of climate change.

We shall, in addition, work with our traditional authorities and districts to issue innovative ‘mini muni adaptation bonds’ to address the issues of reclamation and re-afforestation in their localities,” he added.

There you have them. 4 more things to learn from the budget.

The year 2022 promises to be a well-planned and budgeted for year.

Will things work as planned, we can only have our fingers crossed and wait as things unfold.