Budget statements nothing more than academic exercises –Ghana Federation of Labour

Even as government prepares to read its 2014 budget in Parliament Tuesday, the Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour is skeptical about government's ability to take its own document seriously
Abraham Koomson is convinced that budget statements prepared by governments over the years are nothing more than “academic exercises”.
Abraham Koomson speaking on Multi TV’s Tarzan’s Take, indicated he is at a loss as to why so much time is spent on doing research to inform a budget only for government to fall short of its implementation.
Mr Seth Tekper, Minister for Finance and Economic Planning is set to read the 2014 budget on Tuesday. According to the Minister of Information and Media Relations, Mahama Ayariga, it will focus on job creation and skills development.
But government has a lot to do if an Afrobarometer report which painted a gloomy picture of unemployment in the country is taken into account. The report says the youth population aged between 18-35 years makes up about 26 % of the entire population of the country, but account for over 45% of the total unemployed Ghanaians.
Weighing in on the unemployment crisis, described by some as a threat to national security, Abraham Koomson expressed worry about the lack of jobs in the economy despite the 2013 budget's stated aim of addressing the situation.
He quoted portions of the 2013 budget that read;
“The Ministry will continue the implementation of the Private Sector Development Strategy Phase II to widen economic opportunities for the transformation of the Ghanaian economy and develop a thriving private sector that creates jobs and enhances livelihoods for all”
But as far as Abraham Koomson is concerned there is little evidence to show after writing that “nice document”.
“They do a very nice research but its application and implementation becomes a very difficult exercise”, he noted.
Koomson is therefore calling on government to provide subsidies to the manufacturing sector as is done to local companies in Nigeria. This he says this will encourage industry to be competitive and employ more people as a result.

Source: [Ghana|Myjoyonline.com]