THE NDC Member of Parliament (MP) for Fanteakwa, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has said even though the government has made efforts to stabilise the cedi, the wellbeing of the average Ghanaian has not improved.

He said since the last elections the cost of living has gone up appreciably and, therefore, led to a corresponding depreciation in the living standards of the people.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo, who is a former Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, made these remarks at a public forum on the 2002 budget statement and financial policy at Koforidua.

The forum, which was organised by the Centre for Budget Advocacy, a unit of the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), in conjunction with the Ghana National Association of Teachers, attracted people from all walks of life.

The MP said the increase in the prices of petroleum and the utilities have eroded the real value of salaries of workers.

Mr Ampofo also criticised Ghana’s adoption of the HIPC initiative and said some of the projects envisaged in the 2002 budget statement are ambitious plans which the government cannot achieve.

Mr Oscar Glover, one the panellists, said the HIPC initiative is flawed and will not solve the country’s debt problems but rather perpetuate her dependence on the developed nations.

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Suhum, Kraboa-Coaltar Mr M.K. Mensah, who presented a paper on the 2002 budget, said it adequately caters for all sectors, of the economy, particularly the education sector for which ?216.7bn has been earmarked for its improvement.

The DCE said the government has instituted several interventions to reduce poverty among the people and provide amenities to improve their lot.

Another panellist, Mr J.H. Norgah, of the Koforidua Polytechnic, suggested that there should be no threshold for VAT and that all small-scale businessmen and traders should be roped into patronising the scheme.

The Co-ordinator for the Centre for Budget Advocacy, Mr Vitus Azeem, said the government must always be told what the needs of the people are, to ensure that such needs are given priority attention.