The Member of Parliament (MP) for Affram Plains, Betty K. Mensah has urged government to have a legislative instrument that will address the challenges of poverty and inequality in the country.
She made these known while speaking to Thinknewsonline.com at a National Dialogue to discuss the findings of the 2023 Budget Analysis organized by SEND Ghana.
The MP who also doubles as a memberof the select committee on health said "Having this legislative instrument will help address inequality in a manner that every government intervention initiated will not lose sight of the poor and vulnerable in the society making it bridge the inequality gap in the country"
She charged Government to provide enough funding to implementing agencies.
Madam Mensah tasked government to ensure that resources given to the agencies are effectively utilised.
She stressed that when enough resources are provided, it will help the vulnerable in the society to enjoy the benefits.
NGOs and CSOs were also charged to always make available information gathered to Government in order to help run a smooth system.
"I will be very grateful if you also invite the Ministry of Finance and point out some of your findings to them. You are regarded in this country as a credible organisation that runs independent checks. So open up and this will help Government"
A member of the Peasant Farmers, Bismark Nortey hinted that allocations made in the budget are not adequate.
"We are not making enough allocation. The allocations to the Agriculture is not up to the 10% expected, rather the country is doing 2%.
"The Agriculture growth of this country is not doing well. The cocoa sector is doing -20% and crops are doing 0.5%. The poultry and livestock are all collapsing. Maize and soya have become so expensive"
He added that if care is not taken, the ordinary Ghanaian will not be able to purchase rice, soya and maize.
Way Forward
The media charged Members of Parliament (MPs) in the various sectors to avail themselves to address issues when called upon.
The Senior Programme Officer of SEND Ghana, Harriet Nuamah Agyemang also tasked the media to develop keen interest in pressing national issues and desist from always seeking financial assistance before availing themselves.
She appealed to Government to ensure that funds allocated in the budget are used for its intended purposes.
Member of Parliament, Amenfi West Constituency, Eric Afful, commended SEND Ghana for organising such an important national dialogue to discuss the findings of the 2023 Budget Analysis.
"I want SEND Ghana to do one thing. Their presentations are are mostly on funds and allocations. They should also look at the details of programmes money has been allocated to"
The Member of Parliament revealed that huge sums of monies have been allocated to the Planting for Foods and Jobs (PFJ), Water and Sanitation, Free SHS, School Feeding among others.
"Are we achieving the objectives of the monies allocated? SEND Ghana must probe more into these" he added.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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