WE CAN SAIL ASHORE WITH LEADERSHIP AND CITIZENS’ COMMITMENT

The government’s 2021 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, we would agree, is total in its approach and strategy in raising funds, and also applying such funds in addressing needs in almost all the sectors.

That is why across the various sectors, there are programmes aimed at a holistic recovery/transformation, geared at creating jobs, transforming infrastructure or ameliorating the socio-economic conditions of the people.

From the tro-tro driver and fisherman through the market woman, pensioners, the aged, to nurses, teachers and farmers, the government is putting in place interventions aimed at a faster post-COVID-19 pace of growth and development.

Digitisation

As the government intimated, at the heart of the 2021 Budget is the digitisation programme aimed at properly identifying Ghanaians and population segments to enable it plan into the future.

We would further admit that the initiative is imperative in the light of the huge percentage of workers outside the formal economy. This makes it challenging for the government to offer enough support to various segments of the population.

The digitisation programme will also offer people the opportunity to contribute to national development by paying taxes.

Since decentralisation is also at the very core of formalisation, we believe it is in that vein that the President admonished the regional ministers, as they were sworn into office, to ensure that the right atmosphere prevails in communities to spur development.

Law and order

That is why when the President entreats them to ensure peace, law and order in their respective regions, the message really is to get citizens complying with laws on community stability and payment of taxes, for instance, in furthering Government’s agenda for the development and progress of the country.

As he rightly cautioned, “All our plans and programmes will come to naught, if there is no peace. You must be careful and tactful in managing issues of intelligence and security”.

In that same breath, however, we may add that the citizen’s obligation towards our revenue mobilisation agencies must be proactive.

This is because of the tremendous volume of task facing the government in meeting the basic infrastructural needs of communities necessary in driving economic activity and enhancing national development.

Committed leadership

It is important therefore for all appointees of the President to know that they hold the hammer and the nail in ensuring that citizens pay tax and live and work peaceably and comfortably.

They should not forget that the kind of attitude they show to the people and the manner in which they communicate with them will also have a far-reaching implication on their response to the call on them to help in the execution of the agenda of the government.

For a government that has manifestly committed to improving lives and livelihoods, regardless of our ethnicity or political colour, we believe it is the natural duty of every Ghanaian to cooperate with the Akufo-Addo administration in living out our aspirations as have been spelt out in the 2012 budget.

Swimming together

This is because citizens who desire the best for themselves, their kids and succeeding generations must be willing to support government deliver facilities and important social protection initiatives for vulnerable communities and persons.

While we do all that, we must also remember that we equally have an obligation to ourselves to stay safe and healthy in attaining our individual and collective goals, by adhering to the World Health Organisation and Ghana Health Service COVID-19 safety protocols.

We are certainly not in normal times, and the situation even becomes more critical as we seek to rebuild our Covid-19 ravaged economy through an effort in which everyone is being called upon to make some sacrifices. We are convinced that what we need to sail ashore is commitment on the part of both leadership and the people.