Government Cuts 50% Fuel Coupon Allocations For All Political Appointees And State-Owned Enterprises
The government meant President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has announced that there will be a 50% cut in fuel coupon allocations for all political appointees and Heads of government institutions, including state-owned enterprises (SOEs) effective 1st April 2022.
Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu Greater 
The government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has announced that there will be a 50% cut in fuel coupon allocations for all political appointees and Heads of government institutions, including state-owned enterprises (SOEs) effective 1st April 2022.
These measures, according to the Minister of Finance, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, were part of the government's plans to safeguard the country's economy from collapsing.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Thursday, March 24, 2022, Mr. Ofori-Atta stated that the Finance Ministry has strengthened its expenditure monitoring systems and processes to ensure the effective implementation of these measures.
In addition, he pointed out that the government has decided to take the following measures to ensure the achievement of the fiscal deficit target of 7.4% of GDP for 2022.
Articulating on the government expenditure cutting measures to save the economy, Mr. Ofori-Atta stated that the discretionary spending is to be further cut by an additional
10%.
According to him, the Ministry of Finance is currently meeting with Municipal District Assemblies (MDAs) to review their spending plans for the rest of the three quarters to achieve the discretionary expenditure cuts; these times call for very efficient use of energy resources.
He noted that in line with this, the government with an immediate effect imposed a complete moratorium on the purchase of imported vehicles for the rest of the year.
This, according to him, will affect all new orders, especially 4-wheel drives.
"We will ensure that the overall effect is to reduce total vehicle purchases by the public sector by at least 50 percent for the period; again, with immediate effect Government has imposed a moratorium on all foreign travels, except pre-approved critical/statutory travels
"Government will conclude ongoing measures to eliminate “ghost” workers from the Government payroll by end December 2022," the sector Minister emphasized.
He added that the government will conclude the renegotiation of the Energy Sector IPPs capacity charges by end of Q3-2022 to further reduce excess capacity payments by 20% to generate a total savings of GH¢1.5 billion; impose a moratorium on the establishment of new public sector institutions by the end April 2022.
He stated that the government would prioritize ongoing public projects over new projects, adding that this is to enhance the efficient use of limited public funds over the period by finishing ongoing or stalled but approved projects; reduce expenditure on all meetings and conferences by 50%, effective immediately.
Finally, he indicated that the cabinet approved that Ministers and the Heads of SOEs to contribute 30 percent of their salaries from April to December 2022 to the Consolidated Fund; We would like to thank the Council of State for their leadership in complimenting the Government on this policy.
He said the government has pursued a comprehensive re-profiling strategy to reduce the interest expense burden on the fiscal, and liaised with the Organised Labour and Employers Association to implement with immediate effect, the measures captured in the Kwahu Declaration of the 2022 National Labour.
