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Mr. Bishop Akolgo, Executive Director of Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), has asked the media to stay focused on interrogating issues raised by the 2016 budget rather than being swayed by sensationalism.

Speaking at a second media dialogue on the 2016 budget presented by the Minister of Finance, he said it was important for journalists to identify particular provisions in the budget and consistently monitor and report on its implementation.

He said: “Ear-mark and eye-mark the money. You have to follow the money until it turns in the goods and services that it is meant for, such as roads, textbooks and other items. Until that is done, your job is not done,” he stated.

Mr. Akolgo said the media could do this by adopting an investigative approach to their reportage and follow each story to its logical conclusion, while avoiding the sensational aspects of the issue.

He also tasked journalists to support their stories with evidence as this will help them avoid being accused of partisan biases.

Addressing ISODEC’s impressions of the 2016 budget, Mr. Akolgo said although the budget had addressed some of the issues they raised in their inputs into the budget during the preparatory stages, others were not addressed.

He said although the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme and other social protection initiatives were ongoing, the budget did not clearly spell out the unit costs in the budget, which made it hard to follow the money.

He explained that ISODEC’s expectation was that the LEAP amount would be increased to about GH₵8 and GH₵10 per head to take care of their needs, and also for it to be part of a larger social development programme to consolidate splinter initiatives.

Mr Akologo observed that although the capitation grant had also not been increased to an appreciable amount, the consolidation agenda would not lead to cuts in the current amounts.

He urged Ghanaians and the media to monitor and ensure that the monies allocated actually got to those it was meant for and not diverted.