ghananlpcommunity/ghana-gov-speeches-sentences huggingface dataset:
Madam Speaker, Regarding the Judiciary, we will ensure adequate collaboration without sacrificing the independence of the Judiciary and encourage their work such as to assure expeditious dispensing of justice to all.
In this vein Government will support such developmental projects, law reform and anticorruption initiatives, as will promote the dignity of our Judiciary.
In preparation for the new District Assemblies to be established after the District Assembly elections of 2010, we will implement programmes to deepen local level democracy, accelerate decentralization and empower the people for local development.
These will require major amendments to the Local Government Act, 1993 and the Local Government Service Act, 2003.
To ensure that there is national consensus on the direction and scope of these amendments, we will organise a broad National Stakeholders Conference on Decentralization this year to mark the 20th anniversary of the coming into existence of the District Assemblies and to make proposals for the amendments.
We believe also that a National Constitutional Review Conference is the surest way to ensure that our Manifesto promises as well as those of some of the other political parties which require constitutional amendments see fruition in a consensual manner.
In preparation towards this Conference, we shall this year establish a Constitutional Review Committee to collate views on amendment proposals and to work towards the Conference.
Madam Speaker, Law and order, human safety and security and protecting the people remain the cornerstone of our internal security policy.
For far too long, Governments have sought to provide for the security of the people without the involvement of the agencies responsible for security.
We will be holding a series of durbars with the officers and men of the Ghana Armed Forces, the Police Service, the Prisons Service and the CEPS to elicit from them directly and at first hand what their concerns and needs are.
The feedback will assist in the present conditions of work for Officers and Men in order to boost morale and improve efficiency.
Madam Speaker, I made a firm commitment to stamp out drug trafficking.
In line with this, we will review the Narcotics Drugs Control, Enforcement and Sanctions Law of 1990 (PNDC LAW 236).
We aim to create a more potent drug enforcement agency that will collaborate more effectively with International drug enforcement agencies to arrest and prosecute offenders.
We will bring to closure investigations into the numerous high profile drug trafficking cases of recent years and bring to book all those involved.
The law-enforcement agencies must be uncompromising in their pursuit of those who violate the human rights of others.
Justice must therefore be brought to bear on those who took the lives of the Ya Na and many of His elders, Issa Molbilla and the over 30 women whose murder still remains a national mystery to mention a few.
Madam Speaker, We will continue to respect the diversity and independence of the media and in shaping opinion in our democracy.
A credible media is reflected in the quality of information they process for the consumption of the public and as a Government, we recognize our responsibility to be accessible to the media in order to bridge the information gap.
In the course of the year, I will begin a monthly radio broadcast to the nation as part of measures to enhance communication with the citizenry.
In as much as we all value accountability of government and free expression, we expect the media to look at its own inadequacies and endeavour to reconnect with the mass of citizens and to live by the tenets such as its own ethical code and the constitutional obligations enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.
CHALLENGING GLOBAL ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT Madam Speaker, I have assumed office at a time of heightened anxiety and insecurity in the global economy.
As we speak, the whole world has been gripped by the severe global economic downturn and associated recession.
Millions of jobs have been lost in many countries.
The financial meltdown has defied logic and economic rationality.
As things fall apart, institutions of global economies and financial management are under enormous stress.
Such is not the gravity of the crises that no nation can traverse these hard times alone, nor can we blame anyone person or government for causing this.
The world needs a radical re-thinking of the rules, institutions and processes for global, social and economic management.
For the developing world, the initial impact has been volatility in commodity prices, reductions in foreign aid and in remittance flows from citizens working abroad who have lost their jobs.
There is imminent danger of substantial reduction in economic growth.
While the exact impact of these changes on our economies are yet to be determined, it must be understood that the world as we know it has changed beyond recognition and we should not, and cannot, bank on previous arrangements, such as the generosity of donors, for our national survival.
Madam Speaker, Over the last one month of assuming office, an economic management team has been reviewing our situation thoroughly.
The reality as we have found out calls into question previous assertion that Ghana is doing well in spite of the global economic crisis.
Let me highlight the fundamentals of our current economic status and predicament.
 The fiscal deficit, meaning the excess of expenditure over revenue, was GHÂ¢ 2.5 Billion in 2008.
This figure is over 15% of Gross Domestic Product.
In layman‟s terms we have spent a great deal more than what we earned.
 The external deficit or balance of payments for 2008 is estimated at GHÂ¢3.42 Billion, or 18% of GDP.
Here too, it means that we owe our foreign creditors far more than is fiscally prudent for an erstwhile HIPC country.
 The rate of inflation accelerated from 12.7 percent at the end of 2007, to 18.1 percent at the end of December 2008.
 In the space of two years i.e.
between 2006 and 2008, our stock of external debt increased from US$2.2 billion to US$3.9 billion.
This contributed to an increase in the overall national debt to US$7.6 billion in 2008, from US$5.3 billion in 2006.
This is in spite of the over US$5.0 billion debt write off enjoyed by the nation from 2001.
 Over the last few months the cedi has lost substantial value with respect to the US dollar which is attributed to the delayed effect of excessive spending and trade imbalances we have experienced since 2006.
We have used up foreign exchange resources which have accrued from various debt relief arrangements to shore up the value of the cedi.
In recent months as the foreign exchange inflows have dried up the cedi has come under enormous pressure.
Indeed, the decline in the value of the cedi is negating benefits which could otherwise have accrued from low world crude oil prices.
We are resolved to achieve an early restoration of stability in the foreign exchange market.
This requires that we expand our exports, cut down our import bill and manage our finances carefully and live within our means.
Honourable members must join me in managing this period of economic difficulty.
I assure you that we shall all benefit when the good times come, as they surely will.
I am optimistic that the burden of sacrifice, if properly shared, will result in great opportunities and progress for the people of this country.
I am committed to bringing the fiscal excesses under control.
Without it, this country cannot pursue the aim of creating prosperity for our people.
We are working on a number of measures and the Finance Minister will announce in detail the specific measures aimed at achieving macro-economic stability in the budget statement to be presented shortly.
The measures will include:  Reducing State Protocol budget by half.
 Reducing Official foreign travel budget by half.
 Reducing Official seminars and workshops budget by half.
 Close monitoring of targets and dividends of state-owned companies and enterprises  Reviewing the exemptions regime.
 Increasing efficiency in revenue collection.
 Negotiating the single spine wages and salaries regime.
And here Madam Speaker, permit me to commend organized labour, which obviously aware of the economic realities, is calling for broader consultation on the implementation of the single spine salary structure.
I am making sure that expenditure at the Presidency does not constitute an undue burden on the Ghanaian taxpayer I will impose austerity measures throughout the Government machinery, to ensure that we realize significant savings.
As part of these measures we will review the decision to purchase two executive Presidential aircrafts.
Ghana simply cannot afford the expenditure at this time and we certainly do not need two Presidential Jets.
This is the beginning of a rescue plan for building A Better Ghana.
PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT Madam Speaker, Whilst we face these challenges our resolve should be to ensure that we continue to drive economic growth to provide opportunities for the poor.
A lot of this growth will be provided by the private sector.
A vibrant, globally competitive private sector must play a key role in the economic transformation and social development of Ghana My administration therefore sees the private sector as an active partner in our development.
It is largely the private sector, formal and informal, indigenous and foreign, that will be central in creating jobs and increasing government revenue through taxation which in turn will fund the social investments such as roads, schools and clinics that the NDC Government is deeply committed to delivering.
It is the men and women in the private sector that my administration intends to partner, develop and grow, not only for the near term but in the longer term to secure the future and well-being of our people.
We want this partnership to be built on a shared responsibility where Government provides the conditions necessary for private sector growth and where the private sector becomes a pro-active partner in development; is socially responsible and innovative so that together we can generate growth and employment and provide incomes especially for the poor.
My pledge to the private sector is clear.
My administration will build a robust economy and address the challenges which the private sector faces in investing, growing and expanding.
In view of the breadth of our challenges, we intend to build on the multi-sectoral strategic framework for the development of the private sector which should provide the vehicle for driving and delivering the changes so urgently required in making Ghana‟s private sector locally and globally competitive.
Given the urgency of this, the private sector development agenda will be driven and monitored at the heart of Government business at The Presidency.
This is a promise I made to the private sector and the Government will translate it into action.
Madam Speaker, In my address to the Economic Retreat at Akosombo a few weeks ago, I argued the concept of justifiable continuity.
This nation must stop the discontinuities in planning that result from changes in Governments.
Too often new Governments have stopped without justification, projects or programmes which previous administrations have initiated.
As a result there is a huge amount of money to be paid in respect of legal rulings both local and international against the Government of Ghana.
In conducting the business of Government we will be guided by these experiences.
Whenever we consider it to be in the national interest we will renegotiate agreements using laid down procedures.
Madam Speaker, The National Youth Employment Program is essential to Ghana‟s overall national employment strategy, and it will be continued.
However, the programme will be revised to extend employment eligibility to tertiary, vocational and other targeted groups.
AGRICULTURE Madam Speaker, The Government will address simultaneously the issues of food availability, access to food, response to crises situations and malnutrition.
The Government will invest adequately to maintain the production level of those crops for which we have surplus production and put in measures to increase significantly the production level of those crops for which we have deficit production.
We will also put in place measures to increase significantly the production level of the staple crops for which consumption demand exceeds domestic production.
The Aveyime Rice Project will be restored to boost rice production for internal consumption and for export.
We will move beyond rhetoric and execute a programme to rehabilitate existing irrigation schemes to ensure their efficient utilization.
We will construct additional dams, boreholes and other water harvesting facilities in areas with high agricultural potential.
The Accra Plains Irrigation Project will be vigorously pursued to make it available for all year round production.
It will be the flagship of the agricultural revolution of this administration.
Madam Speaker, Government will pursue a policy of direct intervention to make available production inputs for small farmers on credit.
In addition to the credit support, Government will continue the fertilizer subsidy programme.
To address the situation of cheap poultry and meat imports, large scale cultivation of maize and soybeans will be supported to drastically reduce the cost of feed for poultry production.
Tariff and non-tariff barriers will be used to give local poultry production a competitive edge over cheap imports.
Government will review all existing agreements on fishing within Ghana‟s territorial waters to ensure that the livelihood and long-term interests of our fishermen and the residents of the coastal communities are guaranteed.
Government will also enforce the prohibition of the unorthodox fishing methods currently used by some foreign and local fishing trawlers which are leading to the depletion of our marine fish resources.
We will enhance the capacity and capability of the Ghana Navy and Air Force to enforce the prohibition.
We will also enforce regulations on pair trawling and we will enforce the ban on the use of light and explosives for fishing.
COCOA Madam Speaker, Government will aim to increase the yield of cocoa from 1,250kg to about 1,750kg per hectare through better farm management application of hi-tech production systems and better producer prices.
The current mass cocoa spraying exercise will be intensified and extended to include brushing, pest and disease control, shade management, pollination and fertilization.
In pursuance of the objective to process at least 60% of the cocoa produced locally, the NDC Government will begin negotiations for the establishment of a cocoa processing factory in the heart of the cocoa producing area of the Western Region.
This will reduce the burden of transporting large quantities of cocoa beans to the ports.
TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE Madam Speaker, Starting with our decision to merge all transportation-related Ministries except Roads and Highways under one Ministry of Transport, we are beginning the process of harmonizing our infrastructure development towards a common purpose of accelerating our national development effort with national unity and regional integration as twin-purposes.
To this end we propose to fast track  The West Africa Transport and Transit project which will improve sections of the Central Corridor from Kintampo to Paga.
 The Eastern Corridor project which will improve the Tema- Yendi-Tamale road links.
 Completion of the Bole-Bamboi road and continue work on the entire Western Corridor Project.
 Implementation of the road projects supported by the Millennium Challenge Account.
We will also continue with programs such as the Urban Transport project which aims at providing mass transit facilities and services in metropolitan areas.
The project will also provide the framework for better management of urban road transport services in Ghana.
Government will work to eliminate duplication and streamline the policy direction for mass transit to ensure that Ghana obtains the maximum benefits from these initiatives.
Madam Speaker, The vehicle population is growing at about 8% per annum, with cars and buses contributing 30% and 8% respectively to the growth.
In areas such as Accra and Kumasi, the dominant mode of transport is the car with occupancy levels of about 2 per car.
The vehicular volumes of about 55,000 per day on the Airport Road, 20,000 per day on the Spintex Road and 30,000 per day on the La-Teshie road make traffic congestion is inevitable.
Consequently, our country is experiencing economic losses in terms of loss of productivity, high cost of transport services and high operating costs of transport services.
Collaboration of the road sector managers, enforcement agencies and the Metropolitan and Municipal assemblies will be important in resolving identified congestion bottlenecks and avoid the creation of new ones.
HEALTH Madam Speaker, During the 2008 campaign I made several commitments to the health sector.
I am of the conviction that the health of our nation is the wealth of the nation.
The National Health Insurance Program will be enhanced and expanded.
The one-time NHIS enrolment fee still remains an achievable goal, and we will work to make the scheme truly national.
In place of the current District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme to which one must pay an annual premium, we will seek to implement a Universal Health Insurance Scheme which will reflect the universal contribution of all Ghanaian residents to the Scheme.
Since every person in Ghana contributes to the NHIS through the National Health Insurance Levy, the Universal Health Insurance Scheme will allow for a one-time premium payment to the Scheme.
The National Health Insurance Scheme will be restructured to respond to the needs of the population and resolve the issue of claims management as well as those of portability.
We will also pursue the policy of de-linking children from their parents and the provision of free maternal care.
Many of the common ailments and diseases affecting Ghanaians can be eliminated or controlled through better sanitation, nutrition and lifestyles.
Accordingly, we will encourage all MDAs to embark upon major multi-sector collaboration with the view to improving sanitation and targeting safe food and water.
It will ensure that District Assemblies, besides developing relevant regulations and guidelines will also implement and enforce them.
Madam Speaker, The Implementation of the following planned projects will commence:  Rehabilitation and Upgrading of the Tamale Teaching Hospital;  Construction of a 100-bed General Hospital with a Malaria Research Centre at Teshie;  Construction of a Regional Hospital with staff housing at Wa;  Construction of six (6) District Hospitals with staff housing at Adenta/Madina, Twifo-Praso, Konongo-Odumase, Wenchi, Tepa, and Salaga;  Construction of two (2) District Hospitals at Bekwai and Tarkwa;  Construction of Blood Transfusion Centres in Accra, Kumasi and Tamale  The second phase for the Rehabilitation of the Bolgatanga Hospital project.
Preparatory works involving site selection, feasibility studies, needs assessment, appraisal and surveys and fund mobilisation for the following projects would be undertaken in the course of the year:  Medical Assistants Training School in the Northern, Western and Volta Regions;  Upgrading of the Regional Hospital in Cape Coast into a fully fledged Teaching Hospital;  Schools of Allied Health Sciences with emphasis on the training of Health Care Assistants;  Further expansion of existing training Schools and development of new Nursing and Midwifery Training Colleges;  Expansion of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicines Centres in Accra and Kumasi into centres of excellence;  Setting up of a New Urology Centre of excellence at Korle-Bu; and  Construction of Staff accommodation nationwide.
EDUCATION Madam Speaker, A number of critical factors continue to threaten progress in education delivery.
Some of these are gender disparities, geographical differentiations, school drop-out retention, poor transition from primary to junior high school, poor teacher deployment, and inadequate and poor school infrastructure.
We will address these concerns.
We will also strive to improve in a more concerted manner, the situation of second cycle education especially conditions in many of our high schools.
We will address management inefficiencies which affect equity and quality in the education system and take a critical look at the utilization practices of the GETFUND.
One of the most significant of the challenges facing education is the recent reform, which changed the duration of senior high school education.
I am aware of the different opinions on this matter, and I am committed to providing a forum for a very dispassionate discussion on the matter.
I hope this will bring the matter to closure and chart a more permanent structure that will serve the interest of learners, parents and the country at large The newly enacted Education Act 2008 Act 778 sets out the new outlook of the education system.
The Act introduces some new components, such as the establishment of the National Inspectorate Board, National Teaching Council and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.
The Government will take a second look at the Act and propose amendments as we may deem necessary following the outcome of an all-party consultation.
At the same time, we will endeavor to implement the new structures proposed in the Act to ensure quality in the teaching and learning process.
The Government will pay special attention to pre-tertiary education, particular to Basic Education including Special Education, in order to build a strong foundation for learning and continued education.
Net enrolment ratios in all the stages of basic education requires intensive effort on the part of Government, education administrators, parents and guardians.
Together we must aim at ensuring that all Ghanaian children of school going age are in school and that Ghana achieves the target of full enrolment and completion at the basic level.
Government will pay special attention to the teaching and learning of science (including environmental science), technology, technical and vocational education as well as entrepreneurial skills at this level of education.
The National Apprenticeship Programme proposed for this level of education will be examined and an appropriate structure developed for its implementation.
In this regard, the Council for Technical and Vocational Education Training (COTVET) will be empowered to perform its functions to provide the direction for technical and vocational education in Ghana.
Government will provide funds in the budget to revamp the Science Resource Centers in some selected schools during the year.
In addition, mindful of its equity principle, Government will adopt a phased continuation of the construction and rehabilitation works started in the Senior High School.
The teacher will remain at the centre of attention in the effort to improve on the performance of the sector.
The 38 Teacher Training Colleges, which are now diploma awarding institutions will be strengthened to achieve standards required of them.
The GES will be expected to revise its teacher deployment programme by focusing attention on the underserved areas.
We will ensure that all allowances promised to teachers are paid to them.
Besides, Government will support the distance learning programmes for teachers.
Government will continue to support tertiary institutions to provide quality education that would give satisfaction to both graduates and employers.
Government notes the on-going expansion at this level of education and commends the efforts of the private tertiary institutions.
The jobs of the future require skilled minds and products of our tertiary institutions must reflect this.
The National Accreditation Board must therefore insist on the highest standards of excellence.
The Non-formal Education Division has contributed to a reduction in adult illiteracy and Government will build on the progress made by resourcing it.