The Institute of Statistical Social and Financial Analysis (ISSER) of the College of Ghana has described the 2025 funds and financial coverage of the federal government as inspirational, highlighting a number of tax reliefs geared toward easing the burden on taxpayers.
In a assessment of the 2025 funds statement and financial coverage of government, the Director of ISSER, Professor Peter Quartey, said that the funds impressed hope, significantly by way of the removing of taxes such because the Digital Levy, Betting Tax, and Emissions Levy, that are anticipated to learn companies and people.
Prof. Quartey counseled the government for introducing the Nationwide Apprenticeship Programme to supply expertise coaching for the youth, the Free Tertiary Training coverage for Individuals With Disabilities, and the institution of the Nationwide Improvement Financial institution.
He, nonetheless, pressured the necessity for correct focusing on and transparency in implementing these initiatives.
Prof. Quartey stated ISSER supported the federal government’s determination to reintroduce highway tolls, recommending that the implementation ought to depend on expertise to scale back congestion at toll cubicles.
He emphasised that the mandatory infrastructure needs to be in place earlier than rolling out the coverage.
Prof. Quartey suggested the federal government to discover property charges as a possible supply of revenue, noting that this space stays largely untapped.
On agriculture, he lauded authorities for the Agriculture for Financial Transformation Agenda (AETA), which goals to modernise agritradition and promote agribusiness.
He pressured the significance of improving water provide for crop production.
He beneficial encouraging smaller, private-sector-led irrigation schemes whereas the general public sector focuses on bigger tasks.
Prof. Quartey expressed concern over the federal government’s projected 4.2 per cent progress price for 2025, arguing that it was too low given the 5.7 per cent progress price recorded final yr and the Sub-Saharan common of 4.2 per cent.
He instructed that the modest goal would possibly mirror the delayed implementation of the federal government’s 24-Hour Economic system coverage.
“It’s unlikely that we’ll see immediate advantages from the 24-Hour Economic system coverage as a result of the mandatory buildings are but to be established,” he famous.
Pertaining to world points, Prof. Quartey warned that geopolitical tensions may affect Ghana’s economic system, citing the withdrawal of the USA Company for Worldwide Improvement (USAID) as a possible problem.
Dr Nana Amma Asante-Poku of ISSER, in her welcome deal with, highlighted the significance of the funds as a key coverage doc that impacts important providers like schooling and well being, in addition to consumption and taxation.
She said that the aim of the assessment was to supply a non-partisan evaluation of the funds’s successes and challenges.
The assessment was carried out by a crew of 14 researchers from ISSER.
BY KINGSLEY ASARE
