ghananlpcommunity/ghana-gov-speeches-sentences huggingface dataset:
It will mean that the decision we made, in establishing this Union 15 years ago in 2002, to build our Union “brick by brick”, in His Excellency President Robert Mugabe’s eloquent phrase, is paying off, and that, sooner rather than later, we will arrive at the goal of realizing our vision of an integrated, peaceful and prosperous Africa, speaking with one voice, that has been the dream of successive generations of pan-Africanists.
I acknowledge the outgoing Deputy Chairperson of the Commission, Mr.
Erastus Mwencha, and all the outgoing Commissioners for their sacrifices and contributions to this Union and, indeed, the overall progress of our continent.
I cannot conclude this vote of thanks without making special mention of two persons, one a woman, the other a man.
The woman is Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, outgoing Chairperson of the Commission.
A former colleague as Foreign Minister, her vision of freedom and prosperity with its bold initiatives for all our peoples, in particular women, who constitute the very backbone of our survival and progress, means that millions of women and men around the continent are, today, holding the torch of women’s social, economic and political empowerment.
Nkosazana, ‘wenze kahle’.
We wish you well in your future endeavours.
There were many in this room who could not have missed the symbolism of that other outstanding African woman, Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia and ECOWAS’ current leader, standing by your side on the podium at yesterday’s opening ceremony.
Who knows, you may next year be the second elected female leader on our continent if the South African people and your party so consent.
In Twi, we say ‘nante yie’ – go well, fare thee well.
The other is a man, the Chadian statesman, Idriss Déby Itno.
Excellency, your calm, sterling leadership has brought new dynamism into our Union, characterized by the strategic policies during your tenure that have enlarged immeasurably the horizons of our continental body.
We are deeply indebted to you for the sacrifices you and the Chadian people have made to inspire the success of your mandate.
M. le President Idriss Déby, chef renomée de l’etat Chadien, on vous remercie vivement pour tout votre oeuvre au sein de notre organisation pour le progrés et bien-être du people africain, qui restera toujours trés reconnaissant de vos efforts.
Goodbye and even greater success in the future, both in Chad and in Africa.
We need to remind ourselves regularly that, in launching the theme for 2017 “Harnessing the demographic dividend through investments in the Youth”, we have made essentially a pact with both present and future generations to leave them a better legacy than we inherited from our forebears.
Let our generation be at the measure of our history.
In conclusion, on behalf of all Ghanaians, I thank the Union for its assistance in helping to make Ghana’s recent electoral contest credible and its outcome acceptable, thereby enhancing our principles of democratic accountability, which have reinforced the peace, stability and unity of the Ghanaian nation.
I also thank your Excellencies for the big vote of confidence you gave to my country Ghana, not just by the massive endorsement of Ghana’s candidate for Deputy Chair of our Commission, but also for the selection of my compatriot, Prof.
Dakoure, as one of the two awardees of this year’s Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Award.
Thank you and may God bless the African Union and Mother Africa.
Former Trades and Industry Minister, Alan Kyerematen has addressed citizens on his presidential ambition after resigning as a Cabinet Minister.
He spoke on Tuesday night at 8 pm.
Below is his full speech: Fellow countrymen and women.
Friends of Ghana.
Let me start first by wishing you all a happy, healthy, productive and prosperous New Year.
Secondly, I wish to express formally, my profound gratitude to His Excellency the President for the opportunity given me to serve the good people of Ghana in his Administration over the last six years, and for graciously accepting my resignation as Cabinet Minister responsible for Trade and Industry, with effect from 16 th of January 2023.
Thirdly, I wish to use this platform to formally announce my decision to contest the flagbearership of the New Patriotic Party when the Party officially opens nominations for that purpose.
His Excellency the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been a good friend of mine and will always remain so based on our shared commitment to the ideals and principles that inspired the founding fathers of our great Party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
We have competed in the past but have always worked together thereafter.
The President has laid a strong foundation for the socioeconomic development of our country, although I believe there are things that could have been done differently.
My vision is to build a superstructure on this foundation that will bring prosperity to our nation.
The pre-COVID-19 performance of our economy, the flagship programmes including the Free SHS, the One District One Factory (1D1F) Initiative, the Planting for Food and Jobs programme, the Agenda 111 project and the COVID-19 Response initiatives, are all testimonies of the strong leadership that the President has provided over the last six years.
In spite of all of the above however, it is an undeniable fact that the combined effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war has stampeded our country into a crisis of unprecedented proportions, with its negative impacts on the economy, businesses, and on our social lives.
I have no doubt that the anticipated International Monetary Fund (IMF) Support Package will restore confidence in our economy, and bring it back to the pre-COVID levels.
Fellow Countrymen and Women This is the seventeenth time that we have gone to the IMF over the last 57 years.
We promised never to go back but we have gone back.
One of the lessons that we have learnt from the recent developments is that Ghana’s economy is still fragile, vulnerable and susceptible to both external and domestic shocks.
This primarily is as a result of the fact that our economy is highly dependent on the export of commodities with little or no value addition.
Indeed, the 5.1% projected GDP growth for the Ghanaian economy for 2023 is based on the anticipated increase in commodity prices.
To avoid going back to the IMF, we need a new Plan .
A Plan that will lead us to a more self-reliant and resilient economy.
That Plan must move Ghana from Stability and Growth to Transformation.
Fellow Countrymen and Women If by the will of God and through your goodwill, I am voted first, as the flagbearer of the NPP and subsequently as President of the Republic in the next general elections, I will become the transformational leader of our time, who will build on the foundations laid by successive leaders of our nation over the last sixty-five (65) years.
To achieve this strategic goal of transforming our dear country to become the shining star of the new Africa, I will as President, launch and lead the execution of the Great Transformational Plan (GTP) of Ghana which will span the period 2025 to 2030.
The Post-COVID Economic Recovery Programme (P-CERP) currently being implemented with the anticipated support from the IMF from 2023 to 2025, will be a transitional economic programme leading to the roll out of this Great Transformational Plan.
Fellow Countrymen and Women Before I proceed to provide a brief insight into the key elements of the Great Transformational Plan, seven critical considerations would need to be taken into account to guarantee the success of the Plan.
The primacy of the Private Sector in our national development agenda.
The Private Sector, both domestic and foreign, formal and informal has to be at the centre of our transformational agenda.
The Government’s focus must be to facilitate the process of making our private sector competitive, by creating an enabling environment for businesses.
Attitude to work and enforcement of discipline.
We as a people should appreciate the need for discipline in all spheres of our national lives and change our attitude to work.
Whether you are working for the Private sector or for Government, as a worker, you are not doing a favour to your employer.
It is your duty to ensure that you earn your living from the efforts of your labour.
Corruption and petty theft or thievery, particularly from the public purse, deny our country the benefit of utilizing its tax revenue and other resources for the development of our country.
The arrogance of power has been a major obstruction to progress in our country.
People in positions of authority must understand that leadership is an opportunity to serve the people, and not to lord over them.
In servant leadership, humility is an asset and not a weakness.
Passion for excellence.
As a country we must celebrate competence and excellence and not mediocrity.
As a people, we must focus more on getting things done than talking.
Ghana is gradually becoming a NATO country – “ No Action Talk Only”.
We need to remember that theuse of time is a zero-sum game.
What Ghana needs now are solutions and actions not debates.
And last but not the least, our politics in Ghana is too divisive.
This keeps out some of our best talents in offering themselves for political appointments.
Yes, we pride ourselves as being the bastion of democracy in Africa, but that does not mean that we should allow partisan politics to destroy our collective interests.
These seven critical considerations outlined above, will provide what I will describe as the ‘soft power’ for the effective implementation of our Great Transformational Plan.
Fellow Countrymen and Women, Let me now provide a brief synopsis of the Great Transformational Plan (GTP).
The GTP will be anchored on the following key pillars: A Strong Macroeconomic Environment: The success of the GTP will depend primarily on strong macroeconomic fundamentals, which will include among other things, a stable currency, low inflation, sustainable debt levels, revenue optimization and tight expenditure control to guarantee fiscal balance, low competitive interest rates, strong external reserves backed by high levels of liquidity to support the financial sector.
To a large extent, the IMF support programme when fully executed, will create the appropriate conditions that will underpin the Great Transformational Plan.
A New Agricultural Revolution (NAR) for Ghana : The NAR will be based on five critical elements.
Introducing Technology and Innovation into Agriculture, through Research & Development (R&D) in Agronomy, Mechanization, Irrigation, and Plantation Management.
This will build on the foundation laid by the Planting for Food and Jobs and Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) Programmes.
Our farmers cannot be competitive without technology and innovation.
The establishment of Licensed Food Distribution and Marketing companies by the Private Sector throughout the country at the district level, to be supported by the Government.
These companies will constitute a vital link between farmers and Market Queens in the urban and peri-urban areas.
It will be complemented by the introduction of a digitalized food distribution and marketing online platform which will connect producers to buyers and consumers.
The strengthening of the Ghana Commodity Exchange as the marketplace for all actors in the Agricultural value chain.
Deepening the current regime for lending and financing for the agricultural sector.
Enhancing the de-regulation of the Cocoa sector by deepening private sector participation in the buying and marketing (including export) of Cocoa.
Mass Citizens participation in Agriculture by introducing an ‘Operation Own a Farm’ programme for the Ghanaian citizenry in general.
Industrial Transformation: This will build on the successes of Government’s Ten Point Industrial Transformation Programme including the One District One Factory (1D1F) initiative; the establishment of Strategic Anchor Industries to diversify the economy beyond Cocoa and Gold e.g the Automobile assembly, Garment and Textiles, Pharmaceuticals and the Petrochemical industry; enhancing the growth and development of Small and Medium Enterprises; establishment of Industrial Parks and Special Economic Zones; and supporting Domestic Retail Trade and Distribution.
Accelerated Infrastructure Development: Promoting Private sector financing for public infrastructure such as Roads, Railways, Ports and Harbours, Water Supply Systems, Public Housing etc, which will reduce Government’s exposure to the financing of such infrastructure projects.
Digital Mainstreaming: Digitalization will be mainstreamed in all Government and Public sector activities, building on the current work led by the Ministry of Communication and Digitalization.
Energy Security and Diversification: Greater emphasis to be placed on developing renewable sources of energy, by fast-tracking the execution of Government’s energy transition strategy, including but not limited to nuclear and hydrogen energy.
Decarbonization and Climate Resilience: Scaling up Government’s current efforts at reducing Ghana’s carbon footprints and facilitating access to the carbon trading markets, as well as establishing mechanisms to strengthen the country’s preparedness against the negative effects of climate change.
National Security and Defence Optimization: Deploying resources to strengthen National Security and Defence Mechanisms and Infrastructure, to deal substantively with emerging security threats and challenges, particularly in the Sahalian region.
Downsizing Government: The architecture of Government will be overhauled by consolidating some existing Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
This will mean running a lean Government structure that will ensure operational efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of Government services.
Strategic Engagement with the International Community: Ghana’s diplomatic and economic relations with the International Community under the GTP will be predicated on the principle of ‘positive neutrality’ , based on the strategic interests of Ghana, as well as our shared commitments for the preservation of peace around the world and respect for humanity.
I will in the next several months provide further details of this Great Transformational Plan in the new ‘Alan K Prime Time Talk Show’ to be introduced .
I will also seek inputs from the people of Ghana as I go round in the regions and districts on my campaign tours.
Fellow Countrymen and Women The execution of the GTP will require our collective efforts, irrespective of political orientation, ethnicity or religion.
It will lead to a new dawn of Restoration, Rebuilding and Reward.
The future of our country is bright.
I want you fellow countrymen and women, to make me your next President when the time comes, and you will see a significant difference in your lives.
Fellow Countrymen and Women, I want you to invest in your own future by supporting my campaign.
I will therefore be launching a mass “Ketewa biara nsua” Campaign and “Adopt a Constituency Initiative ” , which will afford Ghanaians from all walks of life the opportunity to be part of my campaign.
For all those who will have the honour and privilege of being Delegates to select the Flagbearer of our great Party, the NPP, please remember, Alan Kyerematen is your Candidate to win power for you in 2024.
Together We shall break the Eight!
As we do say in our local Ghanaian dialects: # Akyea na emmui (symbolizing Hope) #Mu sadaqa da yo; saboda anfaani go be!
(Let’s Sacrifice for the future) # Èkpè deka metuna hò(r) o!
(a symbol of unity and collective effort) # Mòfiaamò baaye nii!
(we shall all enjoy) God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong!!
Let me start first by expressing my profound gratitude to you all for accepting my invitation to attend this Press Conference.
I give thanks to the Almighty God for His manifold blessings on my life and for His grace and mercy.
I wish also to use this platform to express my heartfelt appreciation to each and every one of you, particularly the rank and file of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who have believed in my vision, who have stood by me through thick and thin, and who have shown unwavering faith in the promise of a bright future for Ghana.
Your belief in the possibilities of our nation and your dedication to the ideals of progress, unity and prosperity have been nothing short of inspiring.
It is important for me at the onset, to provide a historical context for what has occasioned this Press Conference today.
In 1992, when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was established, a group of young dynamic Business Executives and Professionals came together to establish the Young Executives Forum (YEF) under my Chairmanship.
The YEF since 1992, became the financial backbone of the Party and provided significant financial resources to support the Party in all its endeavours, including the seed fund for the purchase of the Party’s first national headquarters building.
As Chairman of the YEF, I had the privilege of serving as a member of the National Executive Committee and the National Council of the Party.
In addition to this, I served as a leading member of various Committees of the Party.
In 1996, after the unsuccessful attempt by the first flagbearer of the Party, Professor Albert Adu Boahen to win the general elections, the membership of the Young Executives Forum nominated me to contest the 1996 Presidential Primaries, alongside leading personalities in the Party such as Professor Adu Boahen, Mr.
J. A. Kufour, Dr.
Dsane-Selby, Dr.
Kwame Sarfo Adu, Mr.
Mensah and Dr.
Jones Ofori-Attah.
I was prevailed upon by some senior members of the Party, in particular, Mr.
Akenten Appiah Menka and Mr.
Stephen Krakue, both of blessed memory, to sacrifice the opportunity to contest for the leadership of the Party, and rather support my senior colleague aspirants.
From 1996 to 2000, I played a leading role in supporting the bid of the then Candidate J. A. Kufour to win the general elections, and become President of the Republic in 2001.
After refusing appointment as a Cabinet Minister in the aftermath of the elections, the President persuaded me to become NPP’s first Ambassador to the United States, a position I served with distinction.
I was subsequently appointed in 2003 as Minister for Trade and Industry and Presidential Special Initiatives, to implement a new economic paradigm which I had introduced in 2001, on the assumption of office by President Kufour.
Between 2003 and 2007, I led the Government’s programme for enhancing private sector development and ushering a Golden Age of Business in Ghana.
In 2007, I joined a distinguished group of seventeen (17) Presidential aspirants to contest in the presidential primaries of NPP.
In that election, under very strange circumstances, the electoral process was truncated on the day of the election, on account of accusations levelled against me, of influencing the course of the elections.
This strategy was designed to create disfavour against me, in an attempt to diminish my popularity and the massive support I enjoyed amongst the grassroot activists of the Party.
In spite of this unfortunate occurrence however, when the votes were finally counted, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo came first, and I was the runner-up.
According to the rules of the electoral process, the two of us were programmed for a second run ballot.
It was in response to this development, that I made my landmark declaration that, to avoid a further deterioration of peace in an already divided Party, I would make the supreme political sacrifice not to contest the run-off but rather support Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to contest as the flagbearer for NPP in the 2008 general elections.
Despite the sacrifice that I made to unite the Party as referred to above, there were very serious post-primary attacks on my supporters all over the country, and an open show of hostility.
Some of my supporters were victims of brutalities and continue to bear the scars of that treatment.
I made several representations to the then leadership of the Party, drawing their attention to the rancorous and divisive behaviour of some elements in the Party.
Regrettably, however, my representations went unheeded.
As a consequence, I gave notice of my decision to resign from the Party, in protest against the blatant alienation of my supporters, orchestrated by elements aligned to the leadership of the Party.
The protests and reactions from the rank and file of the Party at that time from all over the country, compelled the then Chairman of the Party to constitute a Reconciliation Committee chaired by the then immediate past Chairman of the Party, Ambassador Samuel Odoi Sykes.
The Committee upheld all my submissions and prevailed upon me to rescind my decision to resign, which I did, with the firm promise to address all the contentious issues I had raised in my notice of resignation.
As a loyal member of the Party, I accepted the plea of the party leadership and joined the campaign team of then Candidate Akufo-Addo all over the country, providing exceptional support to his campaign.
Unfortunately, however, all the promises made by the Party leadership were never fulfilled, and indeed the divisive and hostile attacks on my person and my supporters remained for several years thereafter, and have continued to date.
It is common knowledge that any Party member who is associated directly or indirectly with Alan, is treated with disdain and considered an outcast.
Fellow Countrymen and Women, I have endured all this resentment, and maintained my integrity within the Party throughout the past fifteen years.
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.
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.
Fellow Countrymen and Women, I believe I have served my country well and intend to continue to do so.
On the 5th of January, 2023, I resigned honourably from my position as Cabinet Minister and declared my intention in a national broadcast to contest the Presidential primaries of NPP.
On the 26th of August this year, I participated in the Super Delegates Conference to shortlist the ten aspirants who had filed their nominations to contest in the primaries.
I was selected as one of the five Candidates to contest for the main Presidential primaries scheduled for 4th November 2023.
Fellow Countrymen and Women, After carefully analysing the results of the Super Delegates Conference, I issued a Press Statement on the 6th of September 2023, declaring my intention to exit the process leading to the Presidential primaries.