We won’t touch Heritage Fund’ – Ofori Attah

Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Attah, has dismissed suggestions by Senior Minister Yaw Osarfo Maafo that the Heritage Fund could be used to finance government’s Free Senior High School (SHS) policy.

The Finance Minister told Joy News that the Fund has never been a part of the options government has considered to fund the education policy.

“We are not going to touch the Heritage Fund to be able to support the free SHS education,” Ofori-Attah said in a comment that sought to draw out confidence in government’s resolve to improve the economy despite grim challenges.

Mr. Ofori-Attah has vowed to clear Ghana’s public finances, invest capital in critical infrastructural projects and deal with the ballooning debt (some GHC112 billion currently) under his leadership.

Osafo-Maafo generated a huge public outcry when he told Joy News in an interview that government was considering the Heritage Fund to finance the education policy slated for the 2017/2018 academic year.

The Heritage Fund is an endowment reserve established to support the development for future generations when Ghana’s petroleum reserves have been depleted, according to the Petroleum Revenue Management Act of 2011.

The Petroleum Act also provides that 21% of annual oil revenues should go into a Stabilisation Fund- to support the economy in dire times – while 70% should be used to support the budget.

Opposition to the suggestions from different fronts has come in thick and fast different fronts following Mr. Maafo’s revelation.

Source: myjoyonline