Auto mechanics have made an unusual request as Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta gets ready to present the 2024 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the government.
Some members of the Ghana National Association of Garages at Ofankor have urged the Minister to wear ‘black attire’ instead of his customary white caftan in the hope that it might bring some good fortune to their industry and the country as a whole.
According to them, the past seven budgets that were presented to Parliament by Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta while wearing white attire have resulted in various challenges for them, ranging from high prices of spare parts to expensive fuel and food.
They lamented that this has been gradually destroying their businesses and turning once-thriving fitting shops into cemetaries.
They recalled that a decade ago, in the run-up to Christmas, their fitting shops used to be filled with all types of vehicles.
“This year, things are different. November is here, and the garages are empty. Car owners are hesitant to bring their vehicles for repair due to the exorbitant cost of spare parts,” they said.
The auto mechanics urged Ken Ofori-Atta to, therefore, to wear black attire today for his presentation to Parliament.
They hope that this might give Ghanaians the lucky break they need to redirect the country’s economy onto the right track.
The 2024 Budget, according to the Ministry of Finance, is essential because it is designed to support the implementation of the IMF-backed Post-COVID-19 Programme of Economic Growth (PC-PEG).
It comes just after the successful First Review of the 3-year US$3 billion IMF-ECF Programme.
The budget will also highlight the economy’s performance and efforts to boost its productive capacity through new growth strategies, fiscal measures, and debt management action plans to promote growth and deepen stability.
