Alan K says he had limited budget as Trade Minister

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Former Minister of Trade and Industry Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen has admitted getting limited budget for his work in the years of service under the current administration.

He insinuated that he could have gotten more funding as a cabinet minister.

Mr Kyerematen, however, indicated that he achieved a lot “in spite of the limited budget at my disposal as a cabinet minister”.

The former Trade Minister made this known on Monday, September 25 as he announced his political future after withdrawal from the presidential race of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

He announced the withdrawal of his long-standing membership from the party and indicated his readiness to lead a movement of the youth, Movement for Change, with the ultimate aim of becoming President of Ghana as an independent candidate.

“On assumption of office of the NPP in 2017, under the leadership of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, I was appointed as Minister for Trade and Industry in the first term of the NPP administration, and was retained in the same position by the President in his second term,” he said.

“During the past six years, I led the introduction and implementation of some of the most innovative and successful programmes of the NPP, including the establishment of the One District One Factory (1D1F) initiative, the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) with the Headquarters of the Secretariat in Ghana, the development of new strategic anchor industries including the Automobile Assembly and Component Manufacturing, the establishment of Business Resource Centres and Technology Solution Centers all over the country, to provide comprehensive business development solutions to MSMEs, the introduction of the new Integrated Customs Management System (UNIPASS) which has significantly enhanced mobilization of government revenue, the establishment of Industrial Parks including the flagship Greater Kumasi Industrial City and Special Economic Zone, the development of a National Export Strategy with a target of achieving export revenue of $25 Billion by 2030, and last but not the least, the introduction of Business Regulatory Reforms and a Public Private Dialogue mechanism, to facilitate Government’s interaction with the private sector.

“In spite of the limited budget put at my disposal during my tenure as Cabinet Minister, I was able to deliver significant achievements for the Government and my country.”

SOURCE: TV 3