Former Deputy Education Minister in the erstwhile President John Mahama administration, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says the 2021 budget presented in Parliament last Friday will add up to the ongoing excruciating pain and difficulties Ghanaians are already going through. His broad assessment of the 2021 budget taking into account the economic recession the country finds itself due to the COVID-19, the budget should have cushioned Ghanaians, especially workers who have lost their jobs as well as those who are facing pay-cut as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I was expecting to see a more humanitarian budget that will respond to the hardship in the country as fuel prices have increased six times since the year began (17%). If you look at the cost of iron rod, cement and the general cost of living in the country, I was expecting that the budget will be a stabilization budget that will cushion Ghanaians and bring more relief to the people but unfortunately, the budget has rather introduced additional taxes,” he indicated.