The Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central Constituency, also a Deputy Ranking Member on Finance Committee in Parliament, Hon Isaac Adongo has downgraded the government’s directive on the cut in hampers, diaries and notepads; printed by Municipal Metropolitan and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and State Owned Enterprises (SOEs).

Mr. Adongo disclosed the country’s economic crisis are bigger than mere cut in those frivolous items announced by the Mr Ken Ofori Atta in the 2023 budget statement, on Thursday, November 24, 2022.

He lamented why the government in its 2023 budget statement has refused to cut down on expenditure, which has exerted heavy weight on the ailing economy.

Isaac Adongo cried during an interview with the ‘Citi Eyewitness’ News, “ordinarily, you would have expected that the government will reduce expenditures, so that the little that it raises, it will be able to manage and get you out of your difficulty.

He said he has never encountered any insensitive group as the NPP, adding, “It’s quite clear why the Finance Minister doesn’t want to move.

“I can’t see any economy in trouble that doubles its expenditure. When we ask you if you are going to cut down on expenditure, you keep talking about diaries, how do diaries and hampers solve our problems?”

THE GOVERNMENT YESTERDAY; announced clearing spending cuts to contain the deficit, as a first step toward expenditure rationalisation.

Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, established during the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government, there shall be no hampers for the 2022 festive season.

‘No Hampers, no diaries for government appointees….

According to him, “There shall be no printing of diaries, notepads, calendars and other promotional merchandise by MDAs, MMDAs and SOEs for 2024.”

The minister of state for Finance noted all non-critical projects must be suspended for 2023 financial year, while all MDAs, MMDAs and SOEs are directed to reduce fuel allocations to political appointees and heads of MDAs, MMDAs and SOEs by 50%.

Mr. Ofori-Atta hinted, “This directive applies to all methods of fuel allocation, including coupons, electronic cards, chit system, and fuel depots, adding that accordingly, 50% of the previous years (2022) budget allocation for fuel shall be earmarked for official business pertaining to MDAs, MMDAs and SOEs.”