Free school uniform for 1.6 million pupils in public basic schools

Accra, March 5, GNA - The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwabena Duffuor on Thursday presented the 2009 Budget Statement to Parliament. The highlights included:

Provision of school uniforms to 1.6 million pupils in public basic schools throughout the country; Free supply of exercise books to pupils in public basic schools Increase in the capitation grant from three Ghana cedis to four Ghana cedis, fifty pesewas per year.

Subsidy for examination fees for Basic Education Certificate Examination and that of Senior High School Reduction of some taxes on petroleum products Airport tax for travelling outside West Africa increased from 50 dollars to 75 dollars Import duties on rice, wheat and cooking oil re-imposed Oil, Mining and Forestry companies to repatriate part of their retention to Ghana Companies that bring in staff available locally to be surcharged National Youth Employment Programme to be transformed into Youth Employment Service and made permanent. Abolition of five per cent contribution by rural communities towards the provision of potable water Lands Commission, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Registrar General's Department, Land Title Registry and Immigration Service to extend their working hours The Company Code to be reviewed Registered Queen Mothers to receive allowances Accountant General Department to undertake nation-wide head count of Pensioners Ferry Services on Volta Lake to be improved.

Reactivation of Aveyime Rice Project Establishment of Members of Parliament Development Fund Establishment of Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) and re-activation of Central Region Development Company (CEDECOM) Narcotic Control Law (PNDC Law 236) to be reviewed. Thirty per cent of construction work to be reserved for local contractors