We Need The Media To Help Explain The Budget To Ghanaians- Ministry of Finance

The ministry of Finance has appealed to journalists and the various media organisations across the country to help explain the details of the 2024 budget statement and economic policies of government to the understanding of citizens.

Chief Director of the ministry, Ms Eva Mends made the call in a message read on behalf at a day’s post 2024 post budget workshop held for members of the Parliamentary Press Corps (PPC) and the Institute for Financial and Economic Journalists (IFEJ) in Accra.

Finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta on the authority of the President of the Republic of Ghana in accordance with Section 28 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) presented the budget statement and economic policy to Ghana’s lawmakers on November 15, 2023.

“On behalf of the Hon.  Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, and Management, I want to thank all of you so much for your continues commitment and collaboration with us to explain the content of our budget statements in a fair and balanced manner to Ghanaians”, the Chief Director stated.

According to the Chief Director, the 2024 budget which is structured in two volumes outlining government policy actions that are expected to result in macroeconomic growth and sectoral performances of the various ministries, department and agencies (MDAs) from 2017 to date and their impacts on the economy.

Ms Mends explained that, the structure of the budget is to provide citizens with update on projects and programmes undertaken by the various MDAs to garner the appreciation of Ghanaians of how their taxes for in an evidential manner.

She expressed delight about the level of vibrant media discussions and public response that greeted the budget presentation and urged the need for the momentum to persist as it helps the ministry make the necessary adjustments to the budget.

“After the budget presentation we have had a number of vibrant media commentaries that show the keen interest with which the general public, especially key stakeholders, followed the budget. I personally don’t want the momentum to die, because they help us plan to make the needed adjustment and explanations here and there” Ms Mends stated.

Technical officers at the ministry took the journalists through the macro fiscal performance envisaged in the 2024 budget and the general overview of the 2024 Annual Budget Statement and Economic Policy, the way forward with the IMF under the PC-PEG, and key priorities for year 2024.

The 2024 budget is christened Nkunim Budget (Victory Budget) under the theme: “theme, ‘’pursuing growth and development within a stable macroeconomic environment”.