Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has asked the citizenry not give up despite the current economic downturn. 

According to him, even though the challenges are daunting, Ghanaians should not lose hope in the government. 

Rather, Mr Ofori-Atta urged Ghanaians to play the role in getting the country back on track. 

The embattled minister said that is what makes the country and its citizens unique from others. 

“The challenges we face are daunting, but we must not lose sight of the greatest strength of being Ghanaian: resilience, entrepreneurial zeal, faith, courage, solidarity and hope. I, therefore, ask all of us to play a constructive role in getting our nation fully back on track.”

“Ours is a country with real prospects and the challenges notwithstanding, Ghana will rise again, and my faith is premised on the fact that a lot has already been achieved, especially over the course of the Fourth Republic and our policy, as outlined in this budget to reset the economy, if supported will ensure that, indeed, we have not wasted the current global crisis but used it to make our economy stronger and the progress and prosperity of our people even more assured,” he said during the 2023 budget presentation on Thursday. 

Meanwhile, government has among other things announced the increase of VAT rate by 2.5% to directly support Ghana’s roads and digitalization agenda.

It has also reduced the E-levy rate from 1.5% to 1%. 

“Review the E-Levy Act and more specifically, reduce the headline rate from 1.5% to 1% of the transaction value as well as removal of the daily threshold,” Ken Ofori-Atta added.