Gov’t to hold retreat to review economic performance
President John Dramani Mahama would on Friday participate in a two-day retreat with his Executive team at the Peduase Lodge near Aburi in the Eastern Region.
The retreat to be attended by Vice-President Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, Mr Prosper Douglas Bani, Chief of Staff, Ministers of State, Deputy Ministers and Presidential staffers, would review the country’s economic performance.
Mr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, a Deputy Minister of Information and Media Relations, who announced this during the daily media briefings at the Flagstaff House, Kanda, said the President and his team would look at the policy interventions introduced this year to address the economic challenges.
He said the huge budget deficit, which was occasioned by the reduction in donor budget support, is one of the key issues to be discussed at the retreat.
Besides, Mr Muhammed said the retreat would serve as a curtain raiser towards the drawing up of the 2014 budget, as all the heads of the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) would be given the chance to outline their challenges in the implementation of the 2013 budget.
The Deputy Minister said the aim was to ensure that the MDAs do not spend beyond the budget as occurred in 2012.
He said the President and his team would also do an overview of major contracts and commitments and strategise for subsequent years.
Mr Muhammed said the increased wage bill in relation to the implementation of the Single Spine Pay Policy would also be discussed.
The Deputy Minister said the economy is doing well despite some challenges adding that ”the signals are very positive’.’
He explained that donor support to Ghana’s budget dropped from more than 40 per cent to less than five per cent last year, because of the country’s attainment of the middle-income status and the economic meltdown in most European countries.
Mr Muhammed said government is, however, satisfied with the success of the social policy interventions such as the National Health Insurance Scheme in addressing the health and material needs of the people.
Source: GNA