Catholic Bishops join calls for significant reductions in government spending as Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa discloses startling presidential expenditure details.

The ranking member of the committee on foreign affairs and representative for North Tongu, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has published a study on Facebook detailing the costs associated with the presidency from January through September 2022.

It urges for the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government to “display a posture that is consistent with the reality that the country is in terrible straits or crisis” and to engage in “drastic government expenditure control” while highlighting what Hon. Ablakwa terms the “gut-wrenching” expenses.

The 10-item list of expenses provided by Hon. Ablakwa includes “operational enhancement expenditure” that cost the taxpayer GHS59.4 million, fuel expenses that totalled GHS51.1 million, President Akufo-regional Addo’s trips that cost GHS16.9 million, and more.

the latest Cabinet Retreat cost GHS4.8 million, payment for new vehicles cost GHS6.5 million, payment for networking and ICT equipment cost GHS6.6 million, tyres and batteries for official vehicles cost GHS15 million,

Office supplies, furniture, and fittings cost GHS7.07 million, while internet and phone services cost GHS20 million. Moreover, GHS4.05 million was spent on “URGENT AND OTHER EMERGENCIES Activities” requested by the office of Vice President Alhaji Bawumia.

The Vice President’s office should promptly clarify the purpose of the emergency expenditures, according to Hon. Ablakwa, who also urges accountability and openness in the spending habits of the President’s and Vice President’s offices. According to Hon. Ablakwa, the NDC Caucus in Parliament would be paying greater attention to these spending trends.

In his final statement, he reiterates the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference’s demand on the government to exercise prudent leadership and weight-sharing in light of the government-caused economic crisis.

The public is left to wonder about the nature of the expenses in light of these facts and what, if any, actions the government will take in response to the issues brought out by Hon. Ablakwa and the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference.