2020 budget: GH¢6m to be spent on government communication

The Minority in Parliament has raised red flags over the government’s allocation of GH¢6 million in the 2020 budget on government communication.

The GH¢6 million allocations for government communication is under the budgetary allocation of GH¢7,763, 668, 451.00 for the Agric Ministry.

Taking his turn for the 2020 budget debate, minority spokesperson on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs, Eric Opoku demanded clarification for such an allocation alleging the allocation is to pay NPP Communicators.

“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 operationalize 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.

“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

Meanwhile, the Minister for Food and Agriculture Dr Afriyie Akoto touted achievements of Government in the Agric sector in parliament.

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