Government will distribute the nation's wealth equitably

Accra, Nov. 18, GNA - Finance and Economic Planning Minister, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, on Wednesday said government was focused on ensuring equity in the distribution of wealth in the hands of all Ghanaians in order to protect the gains made by the regime.

Presenting the Budget Statement and Economic Policy for the 2010 Fiscal year to Parliament on Wednesday in Accra, Dr Duffuor said government was determined not to concentrate wealth in the hands of a few.

The Finance Minister said government's efforts at stabilising the economy and preventing run-away inflation had protected the value of the income of the majority of the population.

He noted that those who suffered most when the economy was badly managed were the poor, the ordinary farmers, and the working people who were severely taxed by inflation even as their income remained stable.

"With the fiscal consolidation and macro-economic stability achieved through the implementation of bold and sound economic policies, coupled with the understanding and support of our people, the 2010 Budget ushers in the government's growth and strategy framework towards a Better Ghana."

Dr Duffuor noted that the tools for achieving the objectives of the majority of Ghanaians include: sustenance of the macro-economic stability and fiscal discipline achieved in 2009; positioning the country for a sustained growth through the modernisation of agriculture, provision of key infrastructure development, oil and gas projects, private sector development, Information, Communication and Technology; and the delivery of social programmes targeted at poverty reduction.

GNA