The US$10 billion ‘Big Push’ Programme for accelerated infrastructure development received a major boost following the allocation of GH¢13.85billion in the 2025 budget for its commencement.
In addition to this, the government also announced five new initiatives with an allocation of GH¢651.3million.
The five initiatives include, the Women’s Development Bank which received GH¢51.3million, National Apprenticeship Programme, GH¢300million, ‘Adwumawura’ Programme, GH¢100million, the National Coders Programme GH¢100million, and the Assembly Members allowance, GH¢100 million.
The Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, announced this when he presented the 2025 Budget in Accra yesterday.
He explained that these initiatives formed part of the government’s broader agenda to reset the country and provide relieves for the citizenry.
The Minister also said that government would provide a Cedi equivalent of US$279 million as a revolving fund for the Ghana Gold Board (GOLDBOD) to be able to purchase and export at least three tonnes of gold per week from small scale miners.
In addition, he said an amount of GH¢499.8 million had been allocated for the No-Academic-Fee policy for all first-year students in public tertiary institutions under the ‘No-Fees-Stress’ initiative.
Furthermore GH¢292.4 million has been allocated to commence the distribution of free sanitary pads to female students in basic and secondary schools.
The Finance Minister said the overarching concern about free secondary education had been its quality and the absence of a dedicated source of funding as a result has resolved the funding challenge by uncapping the GETFund.
Uncapping the GETFund he explained would make available dedicated funds for the full financing of free secondary education and free tertiary education for Persons with Disability (PWDs).
“Consequently, the Capping and Realignment Act will be amended to uncap Ghana Education Trust Fund 58 (GETFund) and amend the GETFund Act to provide for full funding of the Free Senior High School education,” he added.
Dr Forson noted this year’s budget for the free secondary education programme was GH¢3.5 billion and the uncapping of the GETFund would make available additional GH¢4.1 billion to the fund specifically for the financing of the free secondary education programme and other related expenditures.
BY CLIFF EKUFUL, KINGSLEY
Source:
ghanaiantimes.com.gh
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