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2025 Budget necessary but hinges on big bets

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Chief Executive Officer of Dalex Finance, Joe Jackson, has described the 2025 Budget presented by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson as a necessary intervention for Ghana’s economic recovery but cautioned that its success hinges on key financial projections materializing.

According to him, much of the government’s strategy relies on optimistic revenue projections, improved tax refund mechanisms, and overall economic confidence.

However, he warned that any external shocks—such as a sharp depreciation of the Cedi, a downturn in the cocoa sector, or a slump in gold prices—could derail the recovery plan.

His comment comes on the back of the Budget presentation by the finance minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, in Parliament on March 11, where he outlined key interventions that the government is seeking to take to address the current economic crisis, which, according to some, was created by the previous administration.

Speaking on The Big Issues on Channel One TV on March 15, 2025, Jackson acknowledged the government’s efforts to stabilise the economy under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program but emphasised that the budget carries significant risks.

“Given where we are with the economy, the IMF programme and as a nation, I think this was an essential budget. It was a good enough budget. Have they taken some really big bets, yes; some bets have been taken.

“The first bet is that our revenues will meet up with the level expected. Some interesting things have been done, for example with the tax refund regime. There is also a huge bet that there can be the optimism as we are seeing in the nation now will translate into good things. But those are bets.

“Any external shock and we are down. If the Cedi dives, we are in trouble. If we cannot revive the cocoa sector, we are in trouble, and if the gold, which has held us up, doesn’t hold up, we are in trouble.

Despite these concerns, he commended the Finance Minister for taking bold steps in addressing Ghana’s economic challenges.

Finance Minister presents bill to exempt Motor Insurance from VAT

 

Too many officers are grumbling – Retired CID boss on challenges under Dampare

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Former Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), COP Bright Oduro (Rtd), has raised concerns about unresolved security challenges within the Ghana Police Service under the leadership of former IGP Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.

In an interview on Eyewitness News on Citi FM, he pointed out gaps in how the police handle robberies and crime across the country.

Just Smiles Foundation Spreads Hope on the Streets of Kumasi

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Unique Trendz Blog of Saturday, 15 March 2025

Source: The Blogger Dangote

On November 23, 2024, Just Smiles Foundation embarked on its first-ever street donation, bringing relief and joy to underprivileged individuals across four key areas in Kumasi: Tafo, Krofrom, Suntreso, and Abrepo. The initiative provided food, drinks, and water to those in need, reaffirming the foundation’s dedication to making a positive impact.

The donation drive received an overwhelming response as volunteers engaged with street dwellers, children, and struggling families, offering not just essentials but also kindness and encouragement. Many beneficiaries expressed heartfelt gratitude, highlighting how such initiatives bring hope to their daily struggles.

Miss Stella Afia Boadi, the founder of Just Smiles Foundation, emphasized the organization’s commitment to uplifting communities through acts of generosity. She encouraged others to join their mission of spreading joy and making a difference in people’s lives.

As the foundation’s first street donation, this event marks the beginning of a broader effort to give back to society, with hopes of reaching even more communities in the future.

Finance Minister presents eight bills to Parliament to scrap E-Levy and other taxes

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Finance Minister presents eight bills to Parliament to scrap E-Levy and other taxes – Ghana Business News




















The alleged ‘sins’ of IGP Dampare

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Following the removal of Dr George Akuffo Dampare as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), several reports and allegations have emerged regarding his actions and inactions while in office.

These actions and inactions, which allegedly made Dr Dampare, who was appointed IGP in 2021, unpopular among a majority of police personnel, have been cited as possible reasons for his removal.

Some individuals have even called for an investigation into the former IGP’s decisions while in office.

Here are some of the ‘sins’ Dampare has been accused of:

Extra-judicial killings:

Dr Akuffo Dampare has been accused of ordering the killing of some persons alleged to be criminals.

The Executive Director of Good Governance Advocacy Group Ghana (GGAGG), Listowel Nana Kusi-Poku, while reacting to a draft report by the committee of Parliament that investigated a leaked tape of a plot to remove Dampare from office in July 2024, said the report was hollow and ignored many issues concerning some questionable actions of the IGP.

He asserted that the report is much ado about nothing and does not bring to bear the many supposed crimes committed by the IGP.

“Some men decide to be in command and go to Bortianor and shoot people, kill them. And the IGP that gave the command, you are telling me, has not been investigated, but they are just thinking about how people were orchestrating for him to be ousted from office, and you think that should be okay with me?” he alleged.

Running of an ‘illegal’ elite police unit – PID:

Dr Dampare was also accused of running an elite police unit, known as the Police Intelligence Department (PID), whose members virtually acted as the former IGP’s thugs, committing all kinds of atrocities.

According to broadcaster Paul Adom Otchere, the hierarchy of the police was unhappy about the PID because its members did what they wanted and were untouchable.

“The PID is being used by Dr Dampare allegedly to empower a certain elite police group, and they do anything and nobody can talk to them, and they talk only to the IGP,” he stated during the July 13, 2023, edition of his Good Evening Ghana programme.

Promoting favourites and denying due promotion:

The majority of personnel of the Ghana Police Service reportedly wanted Dampare removed from office.

According to retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Dr Benjamin Agordzo, police officers in the country would go on the street rejoicing the day Dr Dampare is removed from office.

He said that Dr Dampare is unpopular among police officers because of his actions, especially the biased transfer and promotion of police officers.

“I will always say that this is the worst IGP that we have ever seen in this country. This is the worst IGP. Can you imagine an IGP promoting people without the promotion board? Can you imagine an IGP transferring people without a transfer board?

“Can you imagine an IGP just transferring, so vindictive that if he doesn’t talk to a particular senior officer and he sees you as his friend getting closer to that senior police officer, he will transfer you? Can you see an IGP transferring those around his Deputy Inspector General of Police because they are around him?

“Have you seen this kind of thing? I don’t have any personal problems with him, but I am just saying what I know. And let me tell you something, and I wrote it on my Facebook wall, I can tell you that over 80% or not less of police officers voted against the NPP because of Dampare. I am telling you frankly. You go out and see what is happening in the police service. The police personnel are so disillusioned, so depressed, so fed up with the IGP, and they have spoken. There are a lot of cases in court right now against the IGP,” he alleged.

Brutality of the protestors:

Another possible reason Dr Dampare may have been removed was the treatment of protestors during the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo presidency.

Private legal practitioner and activist, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, in a post shared on social media on March 13, 2025, alleged that Dr. Dampare was used by the Akufo-Addo government to brutalise protestors.

“The way he oversaw the brutal treatment of Democracy Hub protestors, from #OccupyJulorbiHouse to #StopGalamseyProtest. This includes the way he set his sights on me, doing almost everything in his power to use the police force against me and our other convenors.

“I believe that he was extremely used by the former regime. He was their lapdog, and he delivered,” he wrote.

Unresolved election murders and violence:

Another possible reason for the ousting of Dr. Dampare was the inability to find and prosecute the persons responsible for the violence and deaths that occurred during the 2019 Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election, the 2020 general election, and the 2024 general election.

President John Dramani Mahama, through his Executive Secretary, wrote to the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, to request an investigation into the deaths recorded during the 2020 and 2024 elections.

In a letter dated Friday, January 10, 2025, the presidency stated that it has become imperative to serve justice to the victims and families of the deaths.

“I have been instructed by H.E. John Mahama to formally request your office to initiate immediate investigations into the tragic deaths of Ghanaian citizens during the 2020/2024 general elections. These incidents, which occurred in various parts of the country, have left a lasting scar on our democratic process, and it is imperative that justice is served for the victims and their families,” the letter said.

Since the president’s directive, there have been no reports on the investigation.

Unresolved murders of Ahmed Suale and JB Danquah:

The former IGP was possibly removed due to the failure of the police to find the person(s) responsible for the high-profile murders of investigative journalist, Ahmed Suale, and former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament, JB Danquah Adu.

Investigative journalist Ahmed Suale was murdered in 2019, but to date, no suspect has been arrested for his murder.

The Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, Kwame Asare Obeng (A Plus), has said that he has informed the police of the person he claims was responsible for the murder of Ahmed Suale.

JB Danquah Adu was killed in February 2016 at his residence in Accra when Dr Dampare was the Greater Accra Regional police commander, but to date, the perpetrator(s) of the murder have not been found.

Daniel Asiedu, who was the main suspect in the case, was found not guilty by a court in December 2024.

Also, watch the latest Twi news on GhanaWeb TV below:

You can also catch the latest episode of #Trending GH, showcasing Ghanaians’ reactions to the government’s decision to abolish the E-Levy and COVID-19 Levy>/b>

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No new taxes to be introduced – Dr. Peter Otokunor assures

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Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, Director of Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness play videoDr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, Director of Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness

Following the scrapping of COVID-19 and betting taxes, among others, many have wondered whether the government will introduce new taxes to generate revenue for developmental projects in the country.

Speaking to GhanaWeb Business on the sidelines of the UPSA-IERPP Post-Budget Dialogue 2025 in Accra on Friday, March 14, 2025, the Director of Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness, Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, categorically stated that no new taxes will be introduced.

He pointed out that no new taxes were included in the 2025 budget, and that remains unchanged.

Otokunor explained that instead of introducing new taxes, the government is enhancing existing ones and expanding the tax net to include individuals and businesses currently outside it, in order to generate more revenue for the state.

When asked by GhanaWeb’s Ernestina Serwaa Asante whether Ghanaians should expect new taxes, Otokunor firmly responded, “Absolutely not! The budget has been read; there cannot be anything apart from the budget that was read. The appropriation bill will be laid in Parliament; the expenditure and revenue bills will also be laid…”

“There will be no new taxes, and as you heard, there were no new taxes,” he emphasised.

According to him, despite the scrapping of certain taxes, the government is saving GH¢3.9 billion in the tax refund account.

“That is what government efficiency and competency in management are about. You will realize that even with the amount of taxes we are cutting, we are making room for those in the tax refund account. In the tax refund account, we are saving almost GH¢3.9 billion,” Otokunor told GhanaWeb Business.

The post-budget forum follows the presentation of the 2025 budget statement by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, in Parliament on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

The budget reading was conducted in accordance with Article 179 of the 1992 Constitution.

SA/MA

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