ghananlpcommunity/ghana-gov-speeches-sentences huggingface dataset:
ENERGY Madam Speaker, The government has directed the GNPC to exercise its option to acquire a unitized paid interest of 3.75% in the Jubilee field venture.
The value of this share is $161 million.
In addition to establishing a regulatory framework for managing revenues for the benefit of Ghanaians, GNPC will also focus on expense management for the Jubilee project to ensure that development costs are fair and reasonable.
GNPC will enforce local content policy where Ghanaians will be able to participate significantly in oilfield support services towards the development of the Jubilee field and other new prospects.
Revenues from oil and gas will be used to address challenges of poverty in Ghana through expenditures in priority areas of education, health, rural development, infrastructure, water and sanitation.
Other priorities will include investment in physical and social infrastructure within communities close to the oil and gas production activities, investment in a Future Generation Fund to ensure sustained well being into the long-term and investment in technical training, scientific research and development.
Future Exploration Further intensification of exploration in the years ahead will be achieved by GNPC continuing the active promotion of investment in the capital-intensive petroleum sector.
In addition to the Tano-Cape Three Points basin where recent discoveries have been made in deepwater areas, other sedimentary basins that GNPC will be encouraged to promote will include the onshore Voltaian basin which covers a large part of Ghana‟s surface area but where very little exploration has been undertaken to date.
TEMA OIL REFINERY Madam Speaker, The TOR has a mountain of debt which currently stands at GHC1146 million or 11.46 trillion old cedis.
The current debt profile at TOR compares with a total debt of GHC318.6 million or 3.18 trillion cedis as at December 31, 2000.
The current debt is due to unpaid debts on TOR‟s books, interests accumulated on the old debt and subsequent losses as a result of under-recovery from the ex-refinery pricing.
The TOR Debt Recovery Fund Levy had up to December 31, 2008 accumulated GHC720 million or 7.2 trillion cedis.
The Government will review and get a full account of the utilization of the TOR Debt Recovery Fund.
Financial Recovery Plan for VRA and ECG The VRA also has a mountain of debt total debt exceeding $800 million.
At the insistence of creditors of VRA and ECG the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MFEP) had undertaken in May 2008 to conduct a Power Sector Financial Restructuring and Recovery Study, the findings of which was to inform the development of a Comprehensive Financial Recovery Plan for the power utilities.
The study has still not been completed.
Clearly, the current state of affairs is unsustainable and should not be allowed to continue under the proposed 2009 Budget.
To arrest this deteriorating financial situation, Ministry of Energy will work with the Ministry of Finance to:  Develop and implement comprehensive remedial measures, especially re- capitalization, that will ensure the long term financial viability of the power utilities  Complete without further delay, the Power Sector Financial Restructuring and Recovery Study that is necessary to inform Government of Ghana budgetary decisions on re-capitalization of the two power utilities plus the NED.
 Develop a Comprehensive Financial Recovery Plan for the three power utilities.
POWER Ghana‟s installed electricity generation is about 1800 MW, excluding the emergency power plants.
We will increase generation capacity in the country to at least 5000MW within the medium term.
The anticipated increase in generation will enable cost-effective supply to meet the nation‟s requirements including that of VALCO.
Our policy outlook for the electricity sector involves the following:  Generation of electric power shall be fully open to private and public investors as Independent Power Producers.
 We shall restore the momentum to the NDC programme to progressively provide access to electricity to all parts of the country.
 Regional co-operation and integration in electricity supply as is being developed within the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP).
The above measures will enable a lowering of the cost of producing electricity in Ghana and therefore a lowering of electricity tariffs to consumers.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Madam Speaker, We intend to bridge the digital divide between the rural and urban communities to complement the promotion of the attainment of the goals and objectives of the four thematic areas of Government.
We also aim to improve telephone subscription in both fixed and mobile sectors to reach the rural and underserved areas.
We will encourage development of common telecom facilities that will enable Telecom Operators extend their services to many more communities.
We intend to accelerate a programme for common transparent ICT platform to enhance Government business and promote transparency and accountability.
Through the use of ICT, Government will build a reliable database on all Government assets especially vehicles and landed properties We aim to improve telephone subscription in both the fixed and mobile sectors to reach the rural and underserved areas.
By encouraging co-location of facilities and mutual technical collaboration, telecom service providers will benefit from economies of scale and improve communications penetration to rural areas within the next four years.
Additionally GIFTEL will embark upon a schools connectivity project and so many more schools would be provided with connectivity and ICT equipment to enhance community and distance learning.
Special Social Interventions Madam Speaker, Under my administration, the Ministry of Women and Children will witness a significant budget increase and be strengthened to establish Gender Units in all District Assemblies and provide them with capacity to function optimally.
At the national level, we will give Cabinet authorization to the establishment of a Gender Budget Monitoring Unit in the Ministry of Women and Children in collaboration with Ministry of Finance.
This unit will be given the mandate of facilitating the development of gender based budgets in all MDAs and monitoring the implementation of such budgets to ensure that the gender-equity commitments are respected and adhered to.
We will revise, adapt and implement our affirmative Action Policy for Women of 1998, making sure that we have incorporated the key demands of the 2004 “Women‟s Manifesto for Ghana” as well as those of other political parties consistent with our women‟s empowerment agenda.
Ensuring Equitable Development Madam Speaker, By all measure of our national statistics, the three regions of the north â€“ Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions and the Central Region show unacceptable levels of poverty and deprivation.
Communities in these regions are increasingly exhibiting worsening trends of infant, child and maternal mortality.
Yet at the same time, these regions possess enormous potential to propel Ghana into a more diversified and vibrant economy.
In accordance with a long-standing social contract with our people, we will undertake rapid efforts to bridge the developmental gap between the north and south and re-vitalize the Central Regional Developmental Commission (CEDECOM) Specifically, my administration will in 2009 establish the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) as a more holistic development agency to harness the development of the three Northern regions and Districts in the Brong-Ahafo and Volta Regions contiguous to the Northern Region.
Using proceeds appropriated under the Northern Development Fund and with support from Development Partners, we will begin urgent development interventions in the three Northern Regions to bring the needed relief for farmers and residents whose livelihoods were destroyed by 2 successive floods.
We will also begin the process of enabling the private sector and civil society in these regions to accelerate development that enhances incomes and provide employment for the youth.
In the Central Region we will revive CEDECOM to develop a poverty reduction and employment generation master plan, especially targeted at the marginalized fishing communities.
Seed funds will be created to enable CEDECOM to become a more reliable development catalyst for development and poverty reduction in the Central Region.
SPORTS Madam Speaker, We have come to meet a draft Sports Bill from the past administration.
We will review it with various stakeholders and present it to Parliament in line with our Manifesto of developing a comprehensive Sports Policy and related legislation to regulate and guide sports development in Ghana.
Our goal is to move away from the over-concentration on soccer and to some extent boxing.
We must unearth and harness potential in track and field by giving inter-collegiate sports a new impetus We will also structure management set-up to maximize returns from the four (4) new stadia built for the Ghana 2008 Africa Cup of Nations and the new Cape Coast stadium that obviously the NDC Government has to complete.
The immediate preoccupation of Government, apart from the draft sport bill and the sports policy is to collaborate with the Ghana Hockey Association to successfully host the 2009 Africa Hockey Cup of Nations.
Government, in partnership with the Ghana Football Association will not only ensure a second appearance at 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, but be one of the four nations that will play in the semi-finals and finals.
Our hearts and minds will also be with the Black Satellites, who will participate in the FIFA World Cup Youth Tournament in Egypt, come September.
The ultimate target of the Government is to draw up and and execute a strategic plan that will aim at Ghana capturing the commanding heights of not only sports in Africa but the world as a whole.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS Madam Speaker, It is a matter of considerable satisfaction that Ghana‟s foreign policy has continued to follow the principled paths delineated by the Founders of the Nation, in spite of the occasional changes in nuances over the years.
And so the foreign policy of this administration will continue to be defined in its detail by the traditional features of very strong bilateral and multilateral ties, international treaty obligations and a firm commitment to the principles and objectives of the United Nations Charter.
We will participate in international affairs with a strong penchant for championing the causes of economic integration,, continental unity and Pan-Africanism, causes that our people have desired for so long.
In that regard, our immediate focus will be on activities within ECOWAS which are likely to stimulate a more vigorous interaction at the people‟s level.
The concept of the free movement of persons and goods throughout our respective countries must progress from mere slogans to result oriented actions that will encourage integration and economic development in our sub-region.
Ghana will continue to be engaged vigorously with the world beyond the African Union.
We intend to maintain an active role in the United Nations and its specialized agencies as well as in other multilateral organizations such as the Commonwealth, the Non-Aligned Movement etc.
in order to shoulder our share of the responsibilities devolving on us as member of the international community.
We will honour all our legitimate international treaty obligations while we seek our objectives among friendly countries that share our commitment to good governance, peace and democracy.
We make such a declaration because our governance model and service to the international community will continue to be defined by an unflinching support for world peace as well as social and economic justice for all.
To these ends, Madam Speaker, we are currently engaged in re-assessing Ghana‟s diplomatic representation around the world in order to make Ghana‟s diplomacy efficient and cost- effective CONCLUSION Madam Speaker, All throughout my political campaign, I pledged to make a difference in the politics of Ghana; to depart from the vilification, backbiting, political mischief making and divisiveness which have bedeviled politics in this country.
Indeed our message of change begins with the fundamental realization that there is a new way to look at our problems and use political power as an instrument to shape our future.
I am determined to restore a sense of community in this country; a community in which we all share in the responsibility of shouldering the common good.
I want us to be kind and generous to each other.
I believe it is possible to bring back smiles to the faces of all Ghanaians, that even if economic prosperity is slow in coming, Ghanaians will say of this Government that we are truthful, honest and sincere.
We will hold ourselves and all other public officials strictly accountable and that principle is non-negotiable.
I will be an example to the nation.
I will be an example by being time-conscious.
And because it is hypocritical for those in political office to exhort people to sacrifice for the common good when we are not prepared to do same, I will lead by example.
I believe that all Ghanaians would join me to elevate Ghanaian politics beyond pettiness, and aim for something more sublime in the interest of Mother Ghana.
To this end, I extend a hand of friendship to all to join us on the path of unity and peaceful coexistence, even though we may differ in our political beliefs.
Madam Speaker, This House should serve as a model to Ghanaians who should see your teamwork as a prime example of peaceful and productive coexistence.
Our Nation is faced with economic difficulties and many challenges.
Can we build a unified country where all citizens have the opportunity to give off their best to Mother Ghana while earning a good education and a dignified standard of living?
Can we all live under the Rule of Law, whereby we are all governed by the same set of Laws and are equal before the Law?
Can we build a Better and Prosperous Ghana that works in the interest of all Ghanaians?
I believe that we can, and I thank you all for the opportunity to lead our Nation in the process of finding and implementing durable answers to these questions.
I invite my fellow citizens to join together in the process of re-generation of our country.
We have to do it together - the past is gone – let‟s together build a better Ghana underpinned by honesty and integrity.
Working together we can lift Ghana to greatness of which we all can be proud.
There is only one Ghana, and it must work for the betterment of all Ghanaians.
Madam Speaker, I thank you for your attention.
May God Bless Ghana.
WELCOME ADDRESS BY THE RT HQN SPEAKER ON THE OCCASION OF THE OFFICIAL VISIT BY THE RT.
HON PRIME MINISTER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM Yovir Excellency the Vice-President of the Republic of Ghana, Hon.
Members of Parliament, Your Excellency the British High Commissioner, I have the honour to welcome to the Parliament of Ghana our distinguished Guest His Excellency the Rt.
Tony Blair.
Your Excellency the Rt.
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, this, no doubt, is an historic occasion and the first time in four decades that a Prime Minister of the UK has visited Ghana.
Harold Macmillan, then Prime Minister, was in Ghana in 1960.
In 2000 this Parliament was privileged to have in our midst Her Majesty the Queen of England and Head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II.
Since Her Majesty's visit a lot has happened in the political, social and economic life of this dear country of ours.
Our Fourth Republican Constitution recognizes that the best democracy is that which affords all the people equal opportunity to participate in decision making at every level of national life.
Government is taking all necessary steps to establish a sovmd and healthy economy to improve the conditions of life in our rural communities, thereby redressing the imbalance in development between our urban and rural areas.
Appropriate measures are being taken to develop
[parliament OF ghanaubraryI V/bLCOME REMARKS BY THE RT.
SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT, PROFESSOR AARON MICHAEL OQUAYE AT THE COMMENCEIViENT OF SITTING OF THE SECOND MEETING OF THE FOURTH SESSION OF THE SEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF THE FOURTH REPUBLIC HELD ON TUESDAY, 19™ MAY, 2020.
Honourable Members, I warmly welcome you to the House to commence business for yet another Meeting.
While the House was on recess, some Committees took time to carry out some official assignments.
This Includes the Appointments Committee which held two meetings last week to consider the four Justices nominated by His Excellency, the President of the Republic to the Supreme Court.
And the Standing Orders Committee which also met over the weekend to review the new Standing Orders.
We appreciate the Committee for finally concluding its work.
1 STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT BY HE JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA Thursday February 25, 2016 Right Honourable Speaker Your Excellency, the Vice President Your Ladyship, the Chief Justice Honourable Members of Parliament Honourable Members of the Judiciary Distinguished Leaders of Our Security Forces Excellences, Members of the Diplomatic Corps; Our revered Niimei, Naamei, Chiefs, Traditional Rulers and Religious Leaders Fellow Ghanaians Good Morning.
Speaker, Over the years, I have often spoken about, and made reference to, the tremendous power that exists within every single Ghanaian - the power to create change and influence the course of events- the power to shape the future of this great nation of ours.
We are Ghana’s greatest wealth.
The individual skills, talents, passion, personality, ideas and ingenuity we bring can make a world of difference.
When we lose someone, especially someone who is in the prime of his or her life, we mourn much more than what that person was to us, or meant to us.
We also mourn the possibility of what that person might have been or could have accomplished.
Speaker, Every year since the good people of Ghana elected me to serve as President, I have come to this august House in fulfilment of Article 67 of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana to address the state of our nation.
In many ways, because I began as a Member of Parliament, this House is my political home and its honourable members are my brothers and sisters.
We stood on different sides and held our positions.
We argued points, and we pointed out what we felt was the error of the other side’s ways.
But, as I recall, at the end of the day, we were more than worthy opponents.
We recognised ourselves as family, as a microcosm of the larger Ghanaian family.
Speaker, It pains me today to see the vacant seat of our brother, my friend, Honourable J.B.
Danquah-Adu, MP for Abuakwa North.
J.B., aged 50, when he was brutally murdered, was a gentleman who walked away from every conversation with a smile.
2 He genuinely loved Ghana and that devotion shone through in everything he did, especially in his constituency, where he was quite popular and well regarded.
JB’s absence in this House and in his constituency is both seen and felt.
We have lost a member of our family.
And Ghana has lost a true son, one who would no doubt have gone on to contribute greatly to the betterment of our nation.
I would like, on behalf of the good people of Ghana and of all those present today, to offer our deepest condolences to his wife and family; and to Mr.
Frank Adu and Mr.
George Twum-Barimah-Adu, brothers of Honourable JB Danquah-Adu, who are here in Parliament today.
I would also like to respectfully request that we take a full minute of silence to honour him.
Let us also honour our compatriots who passed away during last week’s Metro Mass Transit Bus accident.
* * * PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST Mr.
Speaker, My Government is committed to putting people first.
I have said that again and again over the last several years, but what does that really mean?
How is that declaration affecting the lives of people in Bawku, Aflao, or Axim?
We politicians are known for talking a lot, yet the irony of such a stereotype is that in actual fact, words often fail us.
They fail to convey the numerous ways in which what we are doing is directly impacting the lives of those we are serving.
And that is because we speak in ways that sometimes take the very subjects of our concerns and turn them into objects, or place them in demographics, or speak of them as statistics.
We detail projects and proposals, we cite budgets and data, figures and bottom lines that can feel very far removed from the flesh and blood realities of the people whose lives we seek to improve.
Speaker, In this address on the state of the nation, I would like to show the direct line between policy and people.
I would like to show how the seeds we have been planting for the last three years have taken root and grown.
Some have now become trees bearing fruits that are ripe for picking.
And many more are fast approaching maturity, preparing to display their gifts.
3 EDUCATION Mr.
Speaker, I would like to show how we are changing lives.
And what a better place to start than with education, which has been proven to be the single most effective way not only to change a single life, but other lives that surround it.
Education can break cycles of poverty and abuse.
Education is the key that can unlock, for children, worlds into which their parents could not enter; worlds they never even knew existed.
During this term, my first term as President, we have consciously developed strategies and made interventions to raise the quality of education by emphasising its relevance, improving access, and working to eliminate gender discrimination and inequality.
We have also worked to better train and equip our teachers.
BASIC EDUCATION Mr.
Speaker, Ghana has been commended by the United Nations for meeting the target of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on achieving universal primary education with gender parity.
Despite that achievement, there are still a significant number of school-age children that are not enrolled.
These children are now being targeted under the Compulsory Basic Education (CBE) programme of the Ministry of Education.
In the last year, a total of 54,800 out of school children in four regions have been enrolled into schools.
These are 54,800 children who would not have received an education.
These are 54,800 children whose lives will now have much different outcomes as a result of this programme.
Other important social interventions that are being implemented in the educational sector include the issuance of free supplies such as uniforms, sandals and textbooks.
In June 2015, I launched the free school sandals programme which saw the start of the distribution of 10,000 Kumasi Shoe Factory Made-in-Ghana leather sandals to school children in need across the nation.
A number of students would have struggled without the basic necessities with which to attend school - students like Mohammed Awabu of Moglaa JHS in the Savelugu District of the Northern Region who received free sandals; or David Aminayire of Nayagenia JHS, Kassena-Nankana Municipal in the Upper East Region who received free uniform, free exercise books and textbooks.
Last year, I insisted that the Ministry of Education must ensure that all textbooks are printed in Ghana.
This is on course.
In fact, I would like to acknowledge the statement of gratitude received from the Ghana Printers and Paper Converters Association, led by Mr.
James Appiah-Berko.
4 I would especially like to take note of their indication that this intervention will help create 1,400 new direct jobs.
Better still, that is 1,400 new direct jobs in Ghanaian businesses.
Speaker, In our determination to improve quality education, we have also introduced two new programmes - the Teacher Professional Development Initiative and the Provision of Teaching and Learning Materials programme.
The Teacher Professional Development initiative aims to achieve a target of 95% trained teachers at the basic level by 2020 as set out in the Education Strategic Plan (ESP).
The Provision of Teaching and Learning Materials (TLMs) programme has seen to the distribution of teaching and learning materials to 10,924 basic schools.