The Coalition of Parents of Students in Private Institutions (COPOSIPI) urges the Ghanaian government to effectively implement the 2025 budget to build public trust. Dr. Simon Gbene stresses the need for transparency regarding past budget failures and the current IMF program. He warns against misleading GDP growth figures and advocates for sustainable development over ‘toxic growth’ from illegal activities.
The Coalition of Parents of Students in Private Institutions (COPOSIPI) has urged the Ghanaian government to leverage the current goodwill from citizens to effectively implement the upcoming 2025 budget. The coalition believes that successful execution of the budget could foster trust and confidence among the populace, ultimately benefiting the nation.
COPOSIPI highlighted past instances where budgets were presented but poorly executed, leading to dire consequences such as financial instability, diminished stakeholder trust, reduced accountability, and unfulfilled objectives. Dr. Simon Gbene, the Executive Secretary of COPOSIPI, emphasized the necessity of focusing on effective implementation and urged the government to address challenges transparently and inform the public about any obstacles related to revenue generation.
Dr. Gbene pointed out that Ghana is currently engaged in an International Monetary Fund (IMF) program, necessitating a level of transparency regarding any IMF guidelines that might affect financial actions. Furthermore, he cautioned that reported Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth figures can be misleading, as was seen in the previous government’s claims of around 5% growth, which did not reflect the actual situation on the ground.
He criticized the previous administration’s GDP growth as being driven by illegal mining operations, which had destructive impacts on the environment, saying, “That is ‘toxic growth’, and we reject it and seek sustainable development instead.” He called for growth that benefits both the people and the environment, as opposed to the ‘toxic growth’ associated with illegal mining activities, which only serves a select few at the expense of the community and the ecosystem.
In conclusion, COPOSIPI’s call to action highlights the importance of transparent and effective budget implementation in Ghana. With past failures in budget execution leading to adverse effects, the coalition emphasizes the need for accountability and sustainable development. Effective governance, particularly amidst IMF oversight, is crucial for fostering public trust and economic stability.
Original Source: gna.org.gh
