2024 Budget: Government deepens decentralized development with ¢422.1 million

Government deepens decentralised development with ¢422.1 million says the Minister of Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta. The investment he said has aided the creation and resourcing of the six new administrative regions. Mr. Ofori-Atta said this on the floor of parliament during the 2024 fiscal policy and budget presentation in Accra dubbed the “Nkunim” budget. The finance minister explained that over the last 7 years of the NPP government, every Ghanaian household in all the sixteen regions have been positively impacted by the government’s social intervention programs. Emphasizing the key milestones government has achieved in its commitment towards alleviating poverty and strengthening initiatives, he stated that “Consistent with our policy on preferential options for the poor, i.e. leaving no one behind, we have been historic in enhancing social mobility and protected the vulnerable in our society”. In the educational sector, the finance minister revealed that access to quality Senior High School education for about 5.7 million Ghanaians has improved due to the government’s GH¢8.4 billion investment. He stated that government's GH¢3.6 billion investment in the School Feeding Programme in schools across Ghana has contributed to a significant increase in enrolment and the learning outcomes of about 3.8 million pupils nationwide. He added that the government has supported the foundational education of over 6 million pupils by investing GH¢248.5 million in Capitation Grants. Speaking on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), he stated that the scheme has seen massive reforms, which has led to the rapid improvement and expansion of health service delivery to 16 million Ghanaians. Mr. Ofori Atta reiterated the government’s commitment to invest GH¢1.2 billion to improve the quality of life of about 350,000 Ghanaian households under the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty initiative (LEAP).