The former Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku Constituency, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, has intimated that persons calling for a review in the Free SHS initiative should come up with specifics.
Dr. Okoe Boye commenting on ways to make the current economic situation better, urged persons who raised these concerns to suggest specific areas or ideas as to what needs to be reviewed to aid government’s course of action. He intimated that the nation, being in an economic difficulty, shouldn’t be a reason to stop some implemented initiatives.
“The fact that we are in a crisis doesn’t mean we should go and create a crisis elsewhere. Nobody should make a mistake to say let’s abandon Free Senior High School.”
Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye
The former Ledzokuku MP stated that some people don’t want to be forthright with the causes of the current economic situation the country is facing. He intimated that people try to disregard the role that COVID-19 has played in the nation’s current situation.
“And I want to be very firm on this statement that if anybody in this country decides to talk about our current challenges and ignore what COVID did to us; not only in terms of the medical impact but the economic impact, that person is not being fair to all of us.”
Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye
Government trying to raise revenue
According to Dr. Okoe-Boye, what government is doing currently is to try and raise revenue to make up for the revenue it lost whiles cushioning the citizens during the pandemic. He stated that the public shouldn’t use only debt as an indicator of how well an economy is doing. “This government is one that is inclined to things that will bring us comfort.”
“If you are running a family [and] you are the father and all of a sudden something happens in the community and nobody can go out and you can’t even do your business, you’ll use the money on you to ensure your family survives. When you finish the 5,000 in your account, you’ll go and borrow and if it takes you up to a year to cater for your family, you will build debt. When the period is over, and now they say go and open your shop, you will now find ways to increase your revenue and pay the debt that you have because you wanted to save your family.”
Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye
The former MP intimated that President Akufo-Addo was faced with a situation where he had to choose between paying teachers whiles they sat at home, or going for fiscal consolidation. He averred that the latter would also not have been ideal since the workers would have been at a disadvantage.
Dr. Okoe Boye averred that he acknowledges what the nation is going through but, urged the public to take a fair look at what the nation has been through that has brought the nation to its current state.
“Sometimes, when people are going through challenges for some reason which I understand, they might not even be tolerant to taking a look at what has led us to where we are. So, if we want to solve the problem, it is good to appreciate what has brought us here so we get a fair idea on how to get out of it.”
Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye
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