Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta has announced marginal revision of the government\u2019s fiscal deficit target from 6.5 percent of GDP to 6.3 percent.<\/p>\n
Government has in the past spent more than has been budgeted for leading to huge deficits which puts financial burden on the economy.<\/p>\n
Presenting the Budget Review in parliament, Mr. Ofori-Atta stated that the revision is consistent with government\u2019s resolve to grow the economy and create jobs.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver all fiscal deficit has been revised downwards from 6.5 percent of GDP to 6.3 percent of GDP. Primary balance have been revised from a surplus of 0.4 percent of GDP, to a surplus of 0.2 percent of GDP and Gross Foreign Asset to cover at least three months of imports. Goods and services remain the same as originally programmed,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
However, government has also maintained some key macroeconomic indicators such as the growth rate and inflation.<\/p>\n
\u201cOverall, GDP growth rate is maintained at 6.3 percent with nominal GDP revised slightly to 202 billion from the original projection of 203.41 billion. Non oil growth rate maintained 4.6 percent, end year inflation rate is maintained at 11.2 percent,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n
Provisional Fiscal Performance January-June<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>Mr. Oforit-Atta announced that Total Revenue and Grants amounted to GH\u00a217.5 billion (8.6 percent of GDP) against a target of GH\u00a220.5 billion (10.1 percent of GDP);<\/p>\n \u201cTotal Expenditure, including payments for the clearance of arrears amounted to GH\u00a223.0 billion (11.3 percent of GDP), against a target of GH\u00a227.6 billion (13.6 percent of GDP). Wages and salaries amounted to GH\u00a26.8 billion (3.4 percent of GDP) against a target of GH\u00a26.9 billion,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n He stated that Goods and Services amounted to GH\u00a2854.6 million (0.4 percent of GDP) against the target of GH\u00a21.4 billion (0.7 percent of GDP);<\/p>\n He disclosed that Interest payments amounted to GH\u00a26.7 billion (3.3 percent of GDP) against a target of GH\u00a27.1 billion (3.5 percent of GDP);<\/p>\n \u201cCapital Expenditure (CAPEX) amounted to GH\u00a22.4 billion (1.2 percent of GDP), representing 81.8 percent of the target of GH\u00a22.9 billion (1.4 percent of GDP) for the period\u00b7Government to eliminate all arrears by end 2019 following the outcome of an audit of the outstanding commitments generated as at end 2016 and institute stringent measures that will prevent the accumulation of new ones,\u201d he observed.<\/p>\n Mr. Ofori-Atta stated that fiscal deficit on cash basis was GH\u00a25.6 billion (2.7 percent of GDP) compared to GH\u00a26.7 billion (4.0 percent of GDP) recorded in the same period in 2016;<\/p>\n He noted that the primary balance recorded a surplus of 0.6 percent of GDP, against a target deficit of 0.01 percent.<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n By: Lawrence Segbefia\/citibusinessnews.com\/Ghana<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta has announced marginal revision of the government\u2019s fiscal deficit target from 6.5 percent of GDP to 6.3 percent. Government has in the past spent more than has been budgeted for leading to huge deficits which puts financial burden on the economy. Presenting the Budget Review in parliament, Mr. Ofori-Atta stated that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":340881,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[121,32,171],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n