GOVERNMENT MUST BE ACTIVE IN RAISING REVENUE: THE 2014 BUDGET STATEMENT OF GHANA
As I read through the 2014 Budget statement presented to parliament by the Government of President Mahama, I keep asking myself a few questions. My quest to find answers to these questions has lead me to engage in an examination of the budget, whiles making projections into its viability and otherwise. Government of Ghana needs about 30, 544,300,000.00 (30.5 billion)to run government for the year 2014. (Page 31 of the 2014, budget statement)This appears to be a colossal amount. Meanwhile, on page 43 of the statement, we find that total revenue plus grants has been pegged at 26,001,900,000.00 (26 billion). The statement is suggesting that The Ghana Revenue Authority with its appendixes (VAT, CEPS etc) cannot raise GHC 30 billion for the management of the nation for the year 2014. The GHC 26 billion is even inclusive of expected grants from donor countries and international bodies. This appears very funny to me that Government of Ghana will need to go round the world to seek loans befor...