Minister of Defence, Dr Omane Boamah
The Minister of Defence, Dr Omane Boamah, has defended the 2025 Budget, saying that it offers more hope to Ghanaians despite the criticisms from the Minority in Parliament.
He added that the budget presents a clear and strategic plan for economic recovery, job creation, and energy sustainability.
He urged Ghanaians to focus on the substance of the budget rather than the opposition’s criticisms, which he described as insincere attention-grabbing aimed at discrediting the government’s efforts.
Dr Boamah highlighted the budget’s critical interventions in key sectors such as structural reforms, which he said will benefit all.
Here are the highlights of his comments:
1.Uncapping the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GET Fund): The minister said, “This is a dedicated source of funding that will address the quality and financial stability of the Free SHS policy since its inception as promised.”
2.Uncapping the National Health Insurance Fund: He said, “With funds available, the NHIS can cover a wider range of services, reducing the financial burden on individuals and families, enabling more people to access quality medical services.”
3.Funding National Apprenticeship Programme: This he said will provide the youth with practical skills training and work experience, which will decrease unemployment and increase economic growth.
4.Uncapping Road Funds: Dr. Edward Omane Boamah said, “We promised in our campaign to uncap road fund to increase road development that will lead to improved road safety and increase economic growth.”
5.Allocation of GH¢292.4 million to provide free sanitary pads to needy school children: He explained that this initiative is to reduce absenteeism in school among female students and to foster menstrual hygiene. He added that it will lessen financial burdens on low-income households.
6.1 Million Coders Programme: The minister said, “This will ensure that the youth of this country are well versed within the IT space to take advantage of the opportunities that ICT provides and the many jobs that can be generated.”
7.Structural Reforms: Dr. Omane Boamah stated that, “We are going to allocate funds to invest in critical infrastructure projects and to improve revenue collection and enhance public financial management.”
8.‘Edwumawura Fund’: This is to support developmental projects in the Ashanti Region of Ghana such as education and healthcare facilities and infrastructure development, such as roads and bridges.
MRA/AE
Meanwhile, catch the first in the series of our special episodes on Forgotten Forts on People and Places on GhanaWeb TV below. This episode focuses on Fort Amsterdam at Abandze: