2023 Budget: No Hampers For 2022- Ofori-Atta

The Minister for Finance, Mr. Ken Ofori Atta has said there shall be no hampers for the 2022 Christmas season.

The minister made these statements whilst reading the proposed budget for 2023 today, 24th November in parliament under the implementation of the Cabinet directives on expenditure measures.

Mr. Ofori-Atta added that there shall be no printing of diaries, notepads, calendars, and other promotional merchandise by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies  (MMDAs), and State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) for 2024.

The Auditor-General’s Report in 2021 revealed that the Bawku West District Assembly spent GHC39,000 on food and other grocery items for its staff during Christmas.

The Assembly reported having paid a supplier known as Jezfarms Enterprise a total of GHC23,150 as payment for food for Christmas and New Year festivities for 2020.

Also, GHC16,400 was paid to another supplier known as Anelytie Enterprise as payment for the supply of sugar, rice, and oil for Muslims.

These were contained in the Auditor General’s Report on the Management and Utilisation of the District Assemblies Common Fund (Dacf) and Other Statutory Funds for the Year 2020.

President Mahama had also issued a directive signed by the Executive Secretary to the President, Dr. Raymond Atuguba, in December 2013 directing all MDAs to desist from using public resources for Christmas and New Year gifts such as hampers.