In the build-up to the presentation of the 2022 Budget Statement and Financial Policy by Finance Minister Ken Offori Atta tomorrow, November 17, 2021, residents in the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region have among other things called on the Finance Minister to present a budget that will address the basic needs of the ordinary Ghanaian.
The residents said the cost of living is high and it will be right if the government provides avenues to address the various challenges faced by the ordinary Ghanaian. The residents, unhappy about their current economic predicament said rather worryingly that if the budget is not what they expect “we may have to die and leave the country”.
Speaking to A1 News, the residents named unemployment, the rising fuel prices as well as prices of other commodities as problems that need to be addressed by government with urgency.
A resident who spoke to the News Team but refused to give his name stated that “even children are aware that things are very difficult, living conditions are very high. You will enter market and you can’t buy anything and the causes are very clear. Virtually, this year there has not been any increase in salaries. The 4 percent is too low. The 2022 budget must increase workers’ salaries. Those taxes that are on fuel prices should be taken off”.
Another resident who decided to speak on the basis of anonymity said, “we will like the government to put things in place so that at least the cost of living will come down small, so that the ordinary Ghanaian can also live well. Food prices are skyrocketing we are not able to buy maize”.
“The budget for the 2022 fiscal year should address the basic needs of Ghanaians, if you go to market to buy iron ore or any other thing there prices have more than doubled so the government should make sure that all these prices are stabilised for us to be able to buy if not we will continue to suffer and at the end of the day, we will all die and leave this country,” another resident said.
The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta will tomorrow, November 17, 2021 present the Budget statement before parliament for the 2022 fiscal year. `
Source:Fiilafmonline/A1Radioonline.
