The Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta says that as part of plans to ensure free and fair elections in 2020, the government will provide the Electoral Commission with all the resources needed to conduct the national elections.
While presenting the national budget for 2020 on Tuesday, he said that the move is in line with the government’s efforts to prevent conflicts and maintain the peace that the country is enjoying.
“Mr. Speaker, 2020 is an election year. I will like to take this opportunity to inform this august house on behalf of the President that all the needed resources required shall be marshalled for the Electoral Commission to ensure that we have credible, free and fair elections. Ghana remains one of the most stable and peaceful countries in the world and we intend to maintain it,” he said.
He further noted that it is part of the government’s plans to avoid wastage of resources by spending excessively during election times.
“In spite of the year being an election year, let me repeat that President Akufo-Addo and his government would ensure that the perennial excessive spending during such periods will not happen in 2020. We shall work within the 2020 appropriated resource envelope and avert to the Fiscal Responsibility Act to maintain fiscal discipline. We would do so because the nation needs it,” he added.
This statement by the Finance Minister comes as a reiteration of plans that the government has made towards funding the national elections in 2020.
Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah earlier disclosed that the Akufo-Addo government will raise funds internally to support electoral activities across the country for the Presidential and Parliamentary polls in 2020.
According to him, this is in line with the government’s “Ghana Beyond Aid agenda” and will mean that the government will not be looking for support from donor partners to carry out its statutory obligations like the running of elections.
Addressing the media after Cabinet’s 64th regular meeting and 9th retreat at Peduase in the Eastern Region days ago, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said the improvement in domestic revenue mobilization is critical to ensure the government is able to carry out its statutory obligations.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa has shot down requests for her outfit to push for the introduction of special taxes to fund elections in the country.
According to her, such a move would not be accepted well since Ghanaians are already saddled with numerous taxes.