ghananlpcommunity/ghana-gov-speeches-sentences huggingface dataset:
Speaker, In my first term as President, I will focus on delivering on the following, which constitute the vital pillars underpinning our national development programme.
Putting the People First 2.
A Strong and Resilient Economy 3.
Expanding Infrastructure 4.
Transparent and Accountable Governance PILLAR ONE: PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST Mr.
Speaker, as a Social Democratic Party, we put people first.
We believe that our people are our most treasured asset and this is what informs our social development agenda.
The thrust of our social policy and human development programme revolves around education, healthcare, social security and protection for the vulnerable– women, children, the aged and people with disabilities.
We will focus on and emphasize the productive and reproductive capabilities of these social groupings, while ensuring at the same time that the most vulnerable in our society are effectively protected.
Speaker, our people need decent and sustainable jobs to lead meaningful lives.
Job creation and gainful employment therefore will be at the core of my priorities.
I am determined to expand opportunities for all.
Our policies and initiatives will be geared towards facilitating sustainable employment generation, which will then facilitate economic growth and enhanced incomes.
I have directed the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations to work with the Ghana Statistical Service to produce quarterly labour surveys to inform policy and planning.
These surveys will create an accurate database of the unemployed among all categories of Ghanaian society and track these on a quarterly basis.
It will also ensure that new jobs are accurately 4 recorded and tracked while making it possible to coordinate the various job-­‐creation and employment initiatives.
QUALITY EDUCATION Mr.
Speaker, our quest to build an equitable society in which the productive capacities of our people are tapped for national development will come to naught if we do not give our children sound, meaningful and relevant education.
This is even more imperative in today’s knowledge-­‐ based economy.
Any nation whose people do not have the required level of education will be left behind.
Towards this end we will: • Prioritize and expand access at all levels; • Aggressively address quality enhancement and outcomes at all levels by putting in place measures to monitor quality of educational service delivery especially teaching and learning at all levels of our educational system; • Reward outstanding educational service providers to boost morale in the sector; and • Work to improve gender parity in education.
• Encourage community participation in management of schools • Work towards standardization and affordability in fees.
Speaker, I extend a hand of partnership to our social partners-­‐ the religious bodies with long-­‐ standing roles in the provision of educational services and private sector operators of educational services-­‐ to engage in this national reconstruction exercise for expanding access and improving quality of education in Ghana.
Speaker, with specific reference to basic education, we will ensure that every child gets a head start by working to effectively and practically integrate kindergarten education into the existing system.
To this end, District Assemblies will be required to incrementally build new structures in all existing public schools to serve the needs of kindergarten education.
We shall expand training of kindergarten teachers to ensure that our children all over the country acquire basic numeracy and literacy skills before they start primary education.
It is also the objective of this government, to eliminate the remaining schools under trees by the end of 2016.
We intend to enforce compulsory basic school attendance and deepen pro-­‐poor interventions like the distribution of free school uniforms, free exercise books and free computers.
The school-­‐feeding programme will be progressively expanded to all public basic schools in rural communities to satisfy the basic nutritional needs of the pupils.
Speaker, we are committed to tackling the greatest challenges facing education at the secondary level in our country.
Paramount among these is a lack of access occasioned by inadequate space and facilities for the large number of qualified Junior High School graduates.
To address the limitations imposed on access to secondary education we will, over the next four years, construct a total of two hundred new community day Senior High schools, giving priority to Districts, which currently lack such schools.
Speaker, this level of aggressive expansion and improved access to secondary education also means the need for more qualified and well-­‐ motivated teachers, as well as administrative staff.
In the next few months, government will: • Roll out a special sandwich teacher educational training programme targeted at our unemployed graduates, in preparation for the full implementation of our access to secondary education programme.
• Lead a process to modernise and increase the number of colleges of education with special emphasis on deprived areas and communities.
• Design and implement a distance education programme for teachers with ten decentralized satellite campuses across the country, taking full advantage of 5 contemporary information and communication technology platforms that will allow electronically-­‐shared access to instructional and curriculum resources by these students and staff in these colleges.
• In the area of Special Education, government will facilitate the completion of ongoing construction of Assessment Centres and equip our special education units with the necessary teaching and learning aids including devices for the hearing and visually impaired.
In doing this we intend to emphasize inclusive education by ensuring that our children with special needs are fully integrated into our society through the educational arrangements.
Government will provide incentives for special educators and ensure our children-­‐with-­‐ special-­‐needs benefit from the advantages of modern technology.
Speaker, this year we will initiate a Bill for Parliamentary consideration towards the establishment of a new University in the Eastern Region, committed to Sustainable Environmental Development and Research.
In addition we will begin the road map for converting our existing 10 public polytechnics into fully fledged technical universities.
HEALTH FOR ALL: Mr.
Speaker, the relevance of improved health services cannot be over emphasized.
It augments investment in all sectors.
A sick population cannot generate the productivity needed to maintain the acceleration of our economy.
Presently, our healthcare system still has personnel deficits and service deficiencies despite the facility expansion and human capacity development programmes we have been implementing.
In the next four years, we will work towards improving access, service quality, increased personnel, enhanced working conditions across the various professions in the health sector.
In furtherance of our plan we will undertake the following: 1.
Construction of an ultra-­‐modern, new Teaching Hospital for the University of Ghana Medical School.
Start the processes for the establishment of Regional hospitals in the Eastern and Upper East Regions.
We will continue work on the Regional hospital project in Wa in the Upper West Region.
Upgrade the Central and Volta regional hospitals into teaching hospitals to expand the scope for training medical doctors and other healthcare specialists.
Commence work on 12 new District Hospitals at Dodowa, Abetifi, Fomena, Garu, Kumawu, Sekondi, Salaga, Tepa, Wenchi, Madina.
The refurbishment of the Takoradi European hospital will commence in earnest.
Commence work on a new hospital in Kumasi to decongest the KATH 6.
Initiate work on phase one of the Specialist Emergency Centre at Korle-­‐Bu Teaching hospital.
Establish an additional 1,600 CHIPS compounds across the country by the end of 2016.
This will be consistent with our record over the last four years.
6 Mr.
Speaker, in addition, we will initiate the necessary processes towards the construction of Polyclinics especially in the Districts as well as regions that currently lack such health facilities.
In embarking on this journey of expanding access, we will also begin to explore new modalities of public-­‐private-­‐partnerships in Health investment, in a manner that brings new investment, expertise and technology into the health sector, providing citizens a variety of options of where they access their health services.
Speaker, there is an ongoing review of the operations of the NHIS.
Our goal is to ensure a more efficient, expanded and sustainable delivery.
We will work to reduce cost and eliminate fraud in the system.
New improved claims processing centres will be set up, and improved IT systems put in place to enhance service and create a better platform for monitoring the scheme.
Government has taken note of the last review workshop held and will present the recommendations especially in respect to sustainable financing of the scheme to cabinet for consideration.
We will pursue the implementation of the Mental Health Act in order to mainstream psychiatric treatment and care for our population for our population.
Speaker, with regards to the deficit in health personnel, we will consolidate the gains made in the training of health care professionals through the establishment of the University of Allied and Health Sciences by; • Transforming the Kintampo Rural Health Training Institute into a University College to support the training of Physician Assistants for our ambulance and emergency services as well as the training and deployment of clinical psychologists and environmental Health Inspectors.
• Scaling up the training of midwives and nurses and allied health workers to fill the gap created by ageing health professionals.
Speaker, Ghana has made significant progress towards achieving Universal Access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services through the implementation of a National HIV & AIDS Strategic Plan.
HIV prevalence has stabilized at 1.5 percent with over 25 percent decline in new infections among the youth.
In 2011, Government committed GH¢150 Million to support the implementation of the new five (5) year strategic Plan.
This was in addition to government’s support for prevention & treatment services.
With this plan we intend to achieve virtual elimination of mother to child transmission and cut the rate of new infections by half.
This year, our National Response to HIV will require GH¢180 Million to continue with effective implementation of the Strategic Plan.
This funding will enable the Ghana AIDS Commission enrol over 220,000 Persons Living with HIV on the National Health Insurance Scheme Free of Charge.
Some additional 15,000 will be initiated on Anti-­‐Retroviral Therapy.
Most importantly, over 625,000 expectant mothers will be tested for HIV.
Speaker, as we forge ahead in social development and economic transformation, it is important to be mindful of segments of our society who, for reasons of social, cultural or economic circumstances become vulnerable and marginalized.
It is for this reason we have created the new Ministry for Gender, Children and Social Protection.
The Ministry is to coordinate and implement the numerous Government social intervention programmes aimed at the poor and disadvantaged in society.
Let me say again for emphasis, that the mandate of this ministry is not to promote gay rights as some segments of society have sought to portray.
We have also taken stock of all the existing social intervention programmes, and relocated them directly under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.
This will enable us develop 7 a more efficient targeting mechanism and eliminate duplication and manipulation of the existing fragmented programmes.
The new Ministry will have oversight of the Disability Council and will take steps to integrate fully our challenged brothers and sisters in the mainstream of national life.
We have shown a commitment to this by appointing Dr.
Dana as a Minister of State.
I have asked the Secretary to the Cabinet and the Chief of Staff to take note of any special needs he might have in order to allow him fully function in his role as Minister.
The Ministry will establish a database of the poorest households or individuals in our society and fashion programmes to enhance their access to social services.
This Ministry is at the heart of our being as social democrats.
The fruits of economic growth shall be equitably shared for the benefit of our population.
We cannot advance as a nation, half poor, and half rich.
Our Minister assigned to GCSP is experienced and capable and I am sure that many will soon see the results of her expertise in that sector.
YOUTH AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT Mr.
Speaker, let me now turn my attention to an area that has often proven to be one of the greatest unifiers of our people, sports.
A few weeks ago we had to endure the painful experience of missing out on our much-­‐cherished dream of winning a fifth African Cup of Nations title.
Our Black Stars exited the just ended AFCON competition at the semi-­‐final stage through the lottery of penalty.
I recall how barely a year ago, our beloved late President Mills standing before this august house in his last sessional address, urged our football authorities to take seriously the issue of penalty taking by our teams as it has often been our nemesis in major competitions.
What many appreciated as a humorous comment turned out to be prophetic as the same problem came to haunt us at the just ended AFCON competition.
Speaker, I hope that upon their return from South Africa, the handlers of our National Team have begun undertaking the necessary post mortem in order to ensure our qualification for the World Cup in Brazil next year.
I request the FA and the management of the Stars to go back to the drawing board immediately and commence the building of a more formidable team that will not only qualify for the World cup but will surpass the achievements of their predecessors in previous World Cups.
Another major tournament we need to prepare for is the Olympic games in 2016.
Speaker, we are mindful of the fact that poor planning and a lack of adequate preparation can derail our efforts to qualify for and participate effectively in these and other competitions.
We will roll out a number of policies to unearth and develop sporting talents to feed our various National teams.
These will include: • Provision of incentives for MMDAs to establish at least one well-­‐resourced sports and athletic infrastructure in districts.
• Re-­‐invigoration of the traditional inter-­‐school and colleges sports competition programs • Reserve some admissions to Senior High Schools for talented sports and other creative students among other interventions • Completions of the Cape Coast Stadium as promised by our late President John Evans Atta Mills • Restructuring and re-­‐orientation of the National Sports Authority to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness in the discharge of its mandate • Development of the lesser known sporting disciplines among others.
8 Mr.
Speaker, I stated in my address to the UN General Assembly last year that the youth are today’s leaders and not future leaders.
In order to enable our youth realise their full potential and contribute to National development, we have fashioned out comprehensive programmes including but not limited to: • A GH¢10 million Youth Jobs and Enterprise Development Fund which will be launched to encourage and support young people to become successful entrepreneurs and create sustainable job opportunities • Job and Enterprise Centres (JEC) will be established in all regions to help unemployed youth and those about to enter or prepare for the world of work.
• Develop Youth Centres in Districts to facilitate youth meetings, interactions, cultural programs, conferences and inputs into District Assemblies’ deliberative mechanisms • Continue with the National Youth Achievers Awards, which I introduced last year to institute and encourage Young Achievers.
• Revamp all the Youth Leadership Training Institutes and utilize them for year round training of youth in leadership, civics, patriotism and other nation building curricula SADA & WESTERN CORRIDOR Mr.
Speaker, the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) has agriculture as a key part of its agenda.
In the spirit of Public-­‐Private Partnership, SADA has facilitated partnerships to establish three agro processing factories-­‐ a sheanut processing factory at Buipe, a rice mill at Nyankpala near Tamale and a vegetable oil mill at Tamale.
The Produce Buying Company is currently raising the capital to begin sheanut purchases to feed the factory.
Speaker, this will benefit tens of thousands of poor women in the savannah zone of this country.
Outgrowers are being registered to meet the requirements of these factories.
In 2011, SADA supported 6,000 farming families Last year SADA registered and supported another 16,000 farmers this year with farm inputs, including fertilizers, improved seeds and tractor services for land preparation services.
SADA through its greening the Northern Savannah ecological zone agenda, has partnered with a private sector group to grow and nurture 5 million trees in the next 12 months.
This is providing 5000 jobs across the North.
Speaker, based on the example of SADA, I directed a team in my office and the NDPC to work closely with the two Regional Coordinating Councils and relevant stakeholders towards establishing the Western Corridor Development Authority, comprising Western and Central regions.
The implementation framework for the Authority is currently under development.
Speaker, the Social agenda outlined above informs our economic policy which I would like to touch upon at this juncture.
PILLAR TWO-­‐ A STRONG AND RESILIENT ECONOMY Mr.
Speaker, the economy of Ghana has over a period of more than two decades consistently witnessed a positive growth rate.
This back-­‐to-­‐back growth registered from 1986 culminated in the attainment of lower middle-­‐income status in the year 2010.
This positive performance was taken to a whole new level in the year 2011 when our country registered what is believed to be probably the highest growth rate in the world-­‐ a whopping 14.4 percent growth in GDP.
Since then our country has maintained its ranking among the 10 fastest growing economies in the world.
My vision in this first term of my presidency is to work to sustain economic growth rates at a minimum of eight percent in line with our goal of moving our country from a lower middle-­‐ income status to the full middle-­‐income bracket.
This we must do as we strive to achieve our set social objectives.
9 In the area of macro-­‐economic stability, we have made significant progress.
Inflation that for so long had been in double digits, has for the first time in our history remained within single digit for over thirty long months.
Apart from the first half of 2012, when the cedi experienced serious pressures resulting from a huge balance of trade deficit, the currency has continued to enjoy relative stability.
This relative stability has been boosted by the relatively strong foreign reserves of the country that have increased significantly from about $2billion at the beginning of 2009 to the current $5.5billion.
The banking sector that in 2009 experienced relatively high non-­‐performing loan ratios has seen a marked improvement in its NPL ratio and has seen increased profitability and assets growth.
Speaker, these macro-­‐economic improvements and the sustained strong economic growth rates we have recorded, have made Ghana a very attractive destination for portfolio and foreign direct investment-­‐ a factor which is critical in our quest to rapidly diversify and transform our economy and reduce our vulnerability to external shocks.
FISCAL CHALLENGES Mr.
Speaker, the challenge facing us now is a misalignment of the expenditure categories in the Budget namely, emoluments (i.e., wages, salaries and allowances), goods and services (including debt service), and investment or capital expenditure.
This is attributable to the following critical factors.
It is important to appreciate the fact that the personnel emoluments portion of the Budget has more than tripled in the last three years, from GH¢2.5 billion to about GH¢8 billion this year.
This has been mainly due to the Single Spine Salary Scheme (SSSS).
We now spend a staggering 60.9 percent of our entire national revenue to pay public sector salaries.
Speaker, this is almost double the globally accepted prudent level of between 30 to 35 percent.
While we remain committed to boosting the morale of public sector workers of Ghana, whose incomes were low compared to their counterparts in the private sector.
It is in that spirit that we undertook the salary rationalization with a view to enhancing fairness, productivity and motivation in the public sector.
We now face the challenge of ensuring that the effect of the public sector pay reform does not constitute an unsustainable burden on public finances and on macro-­‐economic stability.
Speaker, the rate of growth of the wage bill has reached a point where they are squeezing out critical investments in the budgetary allocation of goods and services and capital expenditures.
Unless we tackle this issue decisively, we may soon reach a point where not much will be left to provide the much-­‐needed roads, bridges, ports, schools, clinics and water infrastructure we need to develop our economy.
This issue is even more significant because as we struggle to settle the wage bill, thousands of public workers continue to make demands for wage increases and threaten work stoppage if we do not meet these demands.
Speaker, the meat is now down to the bones, and it is time for serious rethinking about the level of wages in relation to our national competiveness and the related productivity issues.
It is said “to whom much is given, much is expected.”
The people of Ghana demand better service from our public sector employees commensurate to the investment made in their remuneration.
Speaker, another factor that led to the large deficit was the significant shortfalls in corporate income taxes from the petroleum sector because of low volumes of crude oil exports.
In addition, there were expenditure overruns arising from borrowing to pay off large arrears and major capital projects, notably the roads projects that we now categorize as the “gang of four” later adjusted to six.
Happily many of these roads are in advance stage of completion.
CORRECTIVE MEASURES Mr.
Speaker, we are taking the difficult but necessary measures to address the serious problems of misalignment.
The National Petroleum Authority recently announced adjustments in the prices of petroleum products to realign the distortions in the pricing of petroleum products.
These distortions had resulted in a situation where Government had to shell out about GHC150 million to the Bulk Distribution Companies (BDCs) to compensate them for losses sustained in the supply of petroleum products.
The net effect was also that because of the wide disparity in price between us and our neighbours, many unscrupulous people found a new occupation in smuggling the products across our borders for sale.
Our primary concern for the poor and vulnerable has necessitated a widening of mitigation measures, such as the introduction of solar lanterns, expansion of life-­‐line threshold on energy for poor households and deepening social protection initiatives to cover a wider net of poor households to cushion them from the effects of these price increases.
On the other hand we are introducing measures to curtail Government’s expenditure on fuel.
We would rationalize the use of government vehicles and fuel in the next few weeks.
I have given the Chief of Staff appropriate directives on this matter.
We will discuss with auto companies a scheme to enable Senior Public servants to buy on hire purchase their own vehicles and curtail the reliance on the use of State vehicles.