|
|
Press Release
NPP
December 11, 2014
“ONE
GHANA: SECURING OUR FUTURE”.
BASED ON SPEECH BY N A N A AKUFO-ADDO, AT THE 2ND ALIU
MAHAMA MEMORIAL LECTURES
A. EDUCATION
1. We cannot continue to have differing standards of
education depending on how rich or poor a parent is
2. Our educational system, including the public schools must
have a reputation for quality and for excellence across
board.
3. We welcome President Mahama’s acceptance of the WISDOM OF
NPP in implementing the FREE SHS. We OFFER EXPERTS FROM NPP
TO HELP in its implementation.
4. We will:
a. Ensure every child gets FREE, COMPULSORY EDUCATION FROM
KINDERGARTEN TO SHS
b. Place proper emphasis on the teaching of the sciences,
mathematics, engineering, enterprise and innovation
c. Move away from rote learning (CHEW AND POUR) and stress
the capacity to think, and so enhance our ability to solve
problems.
d. Make teachers play a key role in making this possible:
i. Will be given a respectable status
ii. Will be well trained and properly remunerated.
B. ECONOMY
1. In 2009, the NDC was handed the best economy inherited by
any new government since the 1960s.
2. In a desperate move to hold on to power, the John Mahama
NDC government went on a reckless spending spree in 2012.
3. The immediate result was that the budget deficit alone
for that year was the same as the ENTIRE NATIONAL BUDGET FOR
2008!!!.
4. Today we are all suffering the consequences of those
irresponsible actions:
a. Our interest payments THIS YEAR is 4 TIMES the oil
revenue for the year!
b. Ghana’s budget deficit is better than only three other
countries out of 144 countries in the latest Global
Competitiveness Report by the World Economic Forum
c. Annual rate of inflation is better than just four other
countries
d. Debt to GDP places us 100 on the list. Significant
portions of Ghana’s debts were wiped out just a decade ago
under the NPP Government.
e. On health, we were ranked better than only 22 other
countries, even though a few years ago our National Health
Insurance Scheme was hailed around the world.
f. Infrastructure, including roads, electricity and
internet, we were 110th best.
5. Governments are elected to offer creative solutions to
the problems that face a country.
C. CORRUPTION
1. Corruption, or the naked theft of public funds, is
destroying Ghana and her future
2. It is undermining confidence in our governance system and
that is dangerous for all of us
3. If we are to succeed in securing our future, we must
succeed in securing the public purse. It appears we have
failed in this:
a. All the signature projects in Government’s 2015 budget
sum up to some $3.5 billion. Yet we have borrowed some $27
billion . . .So, where is the rest of the money?”
b. We do are also not getting value for money on these
projects e.g. the Kasoa Interchange
i. Construction cost pegged at $172 million.
ii. This cost appears bloated when compared to the cost of
building the six-lane N1 Highway, with two interchanges, and
the paying of compensation for those whose properties had to
give way for the road.
c. Fighting corruption and managing our economy competently
will save us a lot of money to fund many of the things we
need to do.
D. ENERGY
1. A reliable, affordable energy supply is the lifeline of
our overall vision to transform the Ghanaian economy into a
modern industrialized one.
2. The recent extension of load shedding to industries puts
the entire economy and its capacity to attract new
investment into grave danger.
3. Ghana is currently experiencing one of her worst levels
of economic growth, job losses and income losses, partly
because of an energy crisis we could have avoided. The
current energy crisis was avoidable and can be avoided in
the future.
4. The energy crisis can be fixed and we intend to fix it
with a long-term sustainable integrated energy plan that
will start yielding results
a. We will pursue vigorously a policy of greater private
sector participation in the ownership and management of
power generation.
b. Securing power for our citizens and industries will
require new and significant, competitive investments in a
mix of power generation, (including hydro, gas, solar,
etc.), distribution, and energy efficiency.
c. We are happy about the news that finally, Ghana’s largest
ever private sector-built power plant, the $900m, 350MW
plant by Cenpower in Kpone, which started nine years ago
under President Kufuor, is taking off, bringing on board one
of the major global players in the energy sector, the
Japanese conglomerate Sumitomo.
E. WORKERS PENSIONS
1. Securing the future is about ensuring our workers a
decent pension after retirement.
2. The new 3-Tier Pension Scheme was conceived, designed,
birthed, and enacted into law by the NPP Government as the
National Pensions Act, 2008 (Act 766) for this very reason.
3. It is sad watching the recent struggle over the Tier Two
Pension between Government and the Unions.
4. Government must take its hands off the pension and allow
the scheme to work as it was intended to do
5. If it necessary to amend Act 766 in other to make it
clear that WORKERS MUST HAVE THE BIGGER AND FINAL SAY in
determining who manages their pensions funds, then
Government MUST DO SO!
F. REGIONAL INTEGRATION
Ghana has to take the lead in bringing about a genuine
regional market of some 350 million people out of ECOWAS,
which will provide a ready market for Ghanaian goods and
services.
G. PEACE & SECURITY
1. Securing the future is about how keeping our country
together, peacefully, by safeguarding our democracy and
securing the integrity of our elections
2. That is why we must all support electoral reforms which
even the majority on the Supreme Court advocated.
H. LEADERSHIP:
And in order to do all this, we must believe in our capacity
to achieve the greatness that others have achieved.
1. Comparatively, our peers 50 years ago like South Korea
have succeeded because of:
a. Competent, decisive, results- oriented, disciplined and
principled national leadership, and
b. Because systems were made to work.
2. Ghanaians are HARDWORKING PEOPLE
3. We are also BLESSED WITH RICHES….in all its forms
4. We need COMPETENT LEADERSHIP to make these riches
a. Work for the people, and
b. Reach every home and family
5. Our task is clear.: We have to make Ghana work:
a. In a way that show we are serious about the welfare of
our people
b. The progress of the nation, and
c. Take our place in the world
6. That is how we can best secure our future
Thank You
--
NPP Communications Directorate
NPP Headquarters, Asylum Down. Accra.
Deputy Director Communications: Curtis Perry K. Okudzeto
Mobile: +233-24-9679008
Telephone: +233-302-264329/Fax +233-302-229048
Email: nppdcom@gmail.com
Website: www.newpatrioticparty.org
|
