Accra, December 10, 2019 - The Minister for Finance has stated that the collaboration between Government and the Ghanaian Christian Community was geared towards building a Wealthy, Inclusive, Sustainable, Empowered and Resilient (W.I.S.E.R.) Ghana.
He stated that with a branch network of over 30,000 across the entire nation, the Ghanaian Christian Community possessed an effective transmission mechanism to reach an estimated 71.2% of the citizens who professed the Christian faith.
Speaking at the launch of the collaboration between the government of Ghana and the Ghanaian Christian Community in Accra, Ken Ofori-Atta commended the Ghanaian Christian Community for their professional expertise, governance and administrative competence, a proven track record of social interventions and their strategic position as engines of growth.
Ken Ofori-Atta who represented Government disclosed that the collaboration provided a formal complementary means to inform policy development and expedite the delivery of social infrastructure and services adding that, “the empowerment of human capital and attitudinal change is therefore a primary priority of collaboration”.
According to him, the nation had resolved to change the traditional dependence on foreigners as our development partners by embracing and harnessing our collective abilities and efforts for our own transformation.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, the contribution of the FBOs to our national development include but not limited to the following: Provision of 40% of all health institutions in Ghana, 84 public and Private Catholic Schools established in Greater Accra alone, over 200,000 client serviced by the Methodist Church through its 3 Hospitals and 22 Medical Centers nationwide and 88 basic schools established by the Church of Pentecost”, the Minister stated.
Mr. Ofori-Atta noted that, with tax to GDP ratio of 12.9% compared to the average of 18-20% among Ghana’s West African neighbors, the significant influence of the Church was crucial for tax sensitization and revenue mobilization among congregants.
Present at the launch of the collaboration included the Minister for Inner Cities and Zongo Development, Hon. Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Hon. Deputy for Finance and Member of Parliament for Atiwa East Constituency, Hon. Abena Osei Asare, Chief Director of the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Patrick Nomo, Leaders of the Orthodox, Charismatic, Pentecostal and Muslim communities and officials of the Ministry of Finance.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Government and the Ghanaian Christian Community within the framework of social partnership agreement that had been initiated with labour unions and employers’ association.