2020 Budget: Minority concerned over GH₵6M allocation for gov’t communication

The Minority in Parliament has raised concerns over the allocation of some GH₵6 million in the 2020 budget for government communication.

The allocations for government communication is under the budgetary commitment of GH¢7, 763, 668, 451.00 to the Agriculture Ministry.

Minority spokesperson on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs, Eric Opoku, who took his turn for the 2020 budget debate, demanded clarification for such an allocation alleging the amount is to pay communicators of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

“Mr Speaker, we are all aware that the Ministry of Information is the mouthpiece for government communication and allocation is made in the budget to operationalise their activities.

“Mr Speaker in the 2020 budget…we have been provided with a list of interesting programmes and among the list is an interesting programme called government communication and that programme is to cause the Ghanaian taxpayer GH¢6 million Ghana cedis” he said.

He further demanded that government provides better details on what the money will be used for.

“Information on this programme is scanty in the budget…in an election year, the government intends to use state resources to pay NPP communicators, and we demand further and better particulars. Is it an expression of lack of confidence in the Ministry of Information…it is important to us to know what that programme is about” he demanded.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture Minister, Dr Afriyie Akoto has been touting achievements of Government in sector in parliament.

In his contribution to the 2020 budget debate, Dr Akoto said the country is on its way to becoming sufficient in poultry production in the next three years.