ghananlpcommunity/ghana-gov-speeches-sentences huggingface dataset:
Speaker, within this period, some one hundred and seventy thousand (170,000) jobs have been created under the novel 1D1F Programme by companies in operation.
Speaker, Government approved a number of incentives, including duty exemptions to support the implementation of the 1D1F Programme.
In 2019 and 2020, thirty-seven (37) 1D1F companies were granted 25 exemptions approval by this august house.
However, from 2021 to date, no exemptions have been granted.
Speaker, I urge the House to consider and approve all the outstanding exemption applications as a matter of urgency, to send positive signals to the business community.
The exemptions law that you have passed provides for such exemptions under existing laws.
Speaker, the other initiative aimed at stimulating industrial growth that we have been actively promoting is automotive assembly and component manufacturing.
It is universally recognized as a key strategic sector for stimulating industrial transformation.
The comprehensive Automotive Development Policy, launched by Government in August, 2019, has undoubtedly been the catalyst that has attracted a record number of twelve (12) Original Equipment Manufacturers, including Volkswagen, Toyota, Suzuki, Nissan, Peugeot, KIA, Hyundai, Honda to set up assembly plants, and produce a range of models here in Ghana.
Speaker, it is noteworthy that these investments have been accompanied with complimentary initiatives to build the necessary engineering and technical skills in Ghana.
Toyota Ghana has partnered the School of Engineering Sciences of the University of Ghana to establish and operate a modern Auto Engineering Training Centre for engineering students and the industry to acquire applied auto engineering training.
Similarly, KIA Motor Company of Korea has upgraded the Rana Motors West African Vehicle Academy (WAVA), with state-of-the-art equipment for training of auto repair and maintenance technicians, including repair and maintenance of Electric Vehicles.
Speaker, to spur our industrialisation, we are implementing the Four Project Agenda of the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC), with Projects 1 and 2 having, already, taken off, and last month, we signed an agreement for the implementation of Project 3.
Speaker, we will lay before this august House, at this First Meeting of this Session of Parliament, a Legislative Instrument to prohibit the export of bauxite in its raw state.
We are, also, in the concluding phase of discussions for the establishment of a four hundred and fifty million US dollar (US$450 million) refinery to refine the manganese we produce.
Speaker, we have all long acknowledged that trade between African countries must increase if we are to make any headway with our dreams 26 of prosperity on the continent.
I am happy to report that the setting up of the AfCFTA, with headquarters here in Accra, is beginning to show positive results.
Ghana is one of the seven (7) countries selected to participate in the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) of the AfCFTA Secretariat, and this has enabled us to make significant inroads into East Africa, notably Kenya and Tanzania.
Over seven hundred (700) AfCFTA certified products from Ghana, like cosmetics, processed foods, beverages, coconut oil, shea butter and garments have been targeted at the AfCFTA market under the Guided Trade Initiative.
I would like to make special mention of Kasapreko Company Limited, one of our iconic local beverage manufacturers, which has commenced exports to the Kenyan market.
It is a fact worth celebrating that many other Ghanaian companies now have set their horizons way beyond the shores of our country, and see the entire African continent as the market to aim at.
Mr Speaker, in speaking about the work space and jobs, our thoughts invariably turn to young people and for some people, to the formal sector and formal sector jobs.
We often forget that formal sector employees form only a small part of the working population.
This small percentage of the working population tends to be the ones that are covered by pension schemes and, unfortunately, the majority of workers in the country do not have any pensions.
To that extent, in May last year, SSNIT launched the Self-Employed Enrolment Drive (SEED), an initiative which seeks to improve coverage and increase the contributor base of the SSNIT Scheme.
Since the launch of the SEED initiative, some six hundred thousand (600,000) self- employed persons have been enrolled onto the programme, and now have some form of social security cover.
Effective 1st January 2024, all pensioners on the SSNIT Pension Payroll as of 31st December 2023, have had their monthly pensions increased by fifteen percent (15%).
This translates to ten-point-zero-five percent (10.05%) effective increase for the highest-earning pensioners, and thirty-six-point-three-seven percent (36.37%) effective increase for the lowest-earning pensioners.
The fifteen percent (15%) indexation rate will result in an additional expenditure of six hundred and ninety-seven million cedis (GH¢697.64 million).
The total benefit expenditure for Government, under the SSNIT Scheme alone, is projected to increase from five-point- 27 four billion cedis (GH¢5.446 billion) in 2023 to seven billion cedis (GH¢7.034 billion) in 2024.
Mr Speaker, I believe we can say with certainty that, in the tourism sector, Ghana is finally realising her long-promised potential.
Starting from the events and excitement of the Year of Return in 2019, Ghana has truly become an attractive tourist destination, with visitor numbers increasing every year.
“December in GH” is now an established and increasingly attractive phenomenon, which brings visitors to our country in the month of December, and has changed the events calendar around the Christmas holiday season in Accra and many other towns.
Mr Speaker, for the first time since the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park was constructed in 1992, Government has undertaken a full modernisation rehabilitation of the facility.
Since the commissioning of the modernised park in July 2023, the number of domestic and international visitors has risen dramatically.
A national newspaper, reporting on activities at the revamped Park, had a screaming headline which said AKUFO-ADDO RESURRECTS NKRUMAH.
That gave me pause for a moment, but, on reflection, I decided I would accept it, be it a compliment, or criticism or an addition to the collection of sayings by our elders.
Whichever it is, since the commissioning, there have been two hundred and eight thousand, five hundred and fifty-seven (208,557) domestic and international visitors to the Park between 14th July and 31st December 2023.
Mr Speaker, compare that, if you may, with the best performance until then, which was in the Year of Return in 2019, when there were one hundred and twenty-six thousand, one hundred and ninety (126,190) visitors in the year.
Other facilities are being upgraded, and it is good to note that the private sector is showing interest, and getting into the development of tourist attraction sites.
Mr Speaker, the National Museum Gallery, which had been closed down since 2015, has also been fully refurbished.
It attracted over thirty-five thousand (35,000) visitors in 2023, and I am particularly pleased that school children form a good part of the visitors to these sites.
The first-ever Kente Museum, aimed at preserving the cultural heritage in Ghana, has been built at Bonwire in the Ashanti Region, and was recently commissioned by the Second Lady.
Preparatory works and designs for the 28 construction of the Heroes Park, a museum to commemorate the founding fathers of Ghana, the Big Six, JB Danquah, Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey, Edward Akufo-Addo, Ebenezer Ako Adjei, William Ofori-Atta, Kwame Nkrumah, were completed in December 2023, and construction will commence very soon.
Mr Speaker, Government, through the National Film Authority, is committed to supporting the production of world class content and films, as well as increasing the cinema infrastructure in Ghana and, by extension, on the continent.
To this end, a favourable fiscal (tax) regime for cinema projects, including income tax and VAT incentives, import duty exemptions on film production equipment, twenty percent (20%) tax rebate for strategic film productions and film financing reliefs, is being elaborated by Cabinet, which should be out-doored very soon, and should provide another tangible reason for the choice of Ghana as a film production country.
Speaker, in line with government’s commitment to ensure gender equality, the revised National Gender Policy and the Affirmative Action Bill were approved by Cabinet in October 2023.
The Affirmative Action Bill is currently before Parliament for consideration and approval.
We count on the support of Parliament for speedy passage of the Bill.
The Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) is implementing an only women support programme, where micro, small and medium enterprises, owned by women, with the potential for scaling up their operations, increasing sales and creating sustainable jobs, will receive liquidity support.
The GEA is also implementing the YouStart Programme, a youth empowerment programme, which recently disbursed one hundred million cedis (GH¢100 million) to some three thousand youth beneficiaries to upscale their businesses.
Speaker, we are also implementing some interventions directed at providing support for persons with disabilities.
In June, last year, a significant boost was given to micro, small and medium enterprises owned by persons with disabilities, when Government launched the twelve- million-cedi (GH¢12 million) PWD Enterprise Support Programme.
This grant support programme, under the Ghana Transformative Project, is being funded by the World Bank.
Again, the Youth Employment Agency has initiated a ground breaking employment drive targeting two hundred and eighty-two (282) persons with disabilities who worked at tollbooths.
29 Mr.
Speaker, let me now turn to football, a sport that is dear to the hearts of all Ghanaians.
I am sure I disclose no state secret if I state that I am myself, an ardent football enthusiast – and once played in the University of Ghana team with my friend, the late President John Evans Fiifi Atta- Mills.
Throughout the years, the national team, the Black Stars, has held a special place in the affection of Ghanaians.
They lifted up our spirits, as they dominated Africa, and won four (4) continental trophies.
They have, at other times, broken our hearts.
But it was not until 2006 that the Black Stars finally broke through to the world stage, when they qualified for the World Cup for first time.
You would remember that we rose up as one in our support and they did not disappoint.
Then came the spectacular South Africa 2010 World Cup and its drama, when we almost became the first African side to reach the semifinals of the World Cup.
It is fair to say that, since the sad events of Brazil 2014, many Ghanaians have been left disappointed by some of the recent results of the Black Stars.
Various attempts have made to revive the fortunes of the national team, and rebuild the enthusiasm of the people with varying degrees of success.
The recent AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire was probably the nadir of the performance of the Black Stars, and has left the nation saddened.
However, I am quite certain that the young men and the technical handlers would, themselves, have wanted to make our nation proud, and I believe that the captain, Andre Dede Ayew, meant every word when he rendered heartfelt apologies on behalf of his team-mates to all Ghanaians for the team’s early exit.
Mr Speaker, I believe it is time for us to take a long-term, far-sighted approach to correct what has gone wrong.
It is time to return to scouting, grooming and developing talent at the district grassroots level under a Presidential Policy on Football that I intend to unveil.
The school sports department of the Ministry of Education will work hand in hand with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, in collaboration and synergy with the Ghana Football Association (GFA), to build district, regional and national juvenile teams for both boys and girls.
The more than one hundred and fifty (150) astro turf pitches constructed throughout the country, under this administration, provide the 30 foundational facilities to make a start, as we strive to provide more of them.
We should see a steady progression of talent up the ladder from the junior juvenile teams to the senior sides based on merit, and nothing else.
A similar approach has been tried before, under the five (5)-year football development plan, led by the late Ben Koufie, and initiated under the NPP administration of President JA Kufuor.
It was under this plan that talents such as Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, John Mensah, Derrick Boateng and later, Asamoah Gyan and Stephen Appiah, were discovered and nurtured.
The results became evident to us and the world.
It takes time, dedication and patience.
We cannot harvest where we have not planted and irrigated.
I have no doubt at all that the Black Stars will rise and make us proud again.
Speaker, the senior Women’s team the Black Queens who do not get half the attention the Black Stars get, have been performing quite creditably.
They had gone for ten (10) matches without any loss until last December’s when they lost narrowly to Namibia in Windhoek in the final qualifying round for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Even though they lost narrowly to Zambia in the first leg of the qualifiers for the 2024 Olympic Games, let us wish them well in the second leg to be played in Lusaka tomorrow, and hope they give us something to cheer about.
Mr Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to report that all the preparations are ready for Ghana to welcome sports men and women from around the continent to participate in the 13th edition of the African Games.
It seems incredible, but this is the first time that Ghana will be hosting these games.
It has taken a lot of courage to have persisted with the decision to host the games, especially when our financial problems came in the midst of the preparations.
But I am glad we went ahead.
The preparations are all complete, and I was excited and very pleased with what I saw at Borteyman when I went to commission the Games village some two (2) weeks ago.
We have high class sporting facilities which should serve us well long after the games are over.
Some of the events will take place at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium.
It is worth noting that this is a facility started under former President J.A.
Kufuor, and was abandoned by successor governments.
31 I am exceedingly proud that this project has been finished under my stewardship, not just because of the games, but also because it has taken seventy-five (75) years of existence for Legon, Ghana’s Premier University, to have a sports stadium.
I urge all Ghanaians to make our visitors welcome, and to patronise the games and cheer on the participants.
Mr Speaker, this is the seventh time that I have appeared before this House, as President, to give an accounting of the state of our nation.
Luckily for me, I know my way around the place, having spent twelve memorable (12) years here as a Member of Parliament, and, therefore, even on the few occasions that sections of the House did not want to make me welcome, I was still able to manage.
I have one more scheduled date with the House, when I would be here to give an accounting of my time in office.
By that time, my successor would have been elected, and we would be getting ready for the swearing-in ceremony.
The elections will be held peacefully, and the candidate with credibility to take us on to a higher level will win.
Let me wish all of us well in the elections on 7th December.
Before then, there a number of important tasks lie ahead of us, one of which will be commissioning the Nana Agyeman Prempeh I International Airport in Kumasi, and naming the recently commissioned airport in Tamale the Yakubu Tali International Airport.
Speaker, we stumbled, but we are rising again.
We were bruised, but we are healing.
We have recovered our footing.
We have dusted ourselves off, and now we face tomorrow with confidence.
Every day we pray and hope that adversity may spare our families, our communities and our dear nation.
But should we be confronted by misfortune; we must face it like people with a proud history who fight and do not flee.
Yenim ko; yen nim adwane.
That is the Ghanaian spirit.
That is our armour and our shield.
This is our ethos.
Let us believe in Ghana.
I believe in Ghana.
STATEMENT TO BE DELIVERED BY HON.
SARAH ADWOA SAFO ~ CHAIRPERSON OF WOMEN CAUCAUS, ON THE FLOOR OF PARLIAMENT 7O MARK THE BREAST CANCER MONTH Mr.
Speaker, as the World Health Organization set aside the month of October for breast cancer awareness dabbed as “pink month”, T wish to make this statement to commemorate the day by adding my voice to creating the awareness of this dreaded disease.
The breast cancer awareness month is celebrated in many countries across the world every October.
This by conscientizing and supporting awareness creation by advocating for early detection and treatment for the disease.
Speaker, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, there are about 1.38 million new cases and 458, 000 death from breast cancer each year (IARC Globocon, 2008) and it is estimated to be the most common cancer worldwide.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), breast cancer is by far the most common cancer in women worldwide, both in developed and developing countries as well as in low and middle level income countries where the issue has even been rising up steadily on yearly bases due to poverty, illiteracy, ignorance, increase urbanization and adaptation of western lifestyles.
Speaker, in Ghana the-incidents of breast cancer are 0.76% which is predicted to increase with time.
Nearly 70% of women diagnosed with breast cancer in Ghana are in advanced stages.
Also, about 30% of these cancer cases were below age 35 years.
This indicates there is a shift of cancer disease from older women to younger ones.
PER THE RESEACH BY Frank Naku Ghartey Jnr and others, published in the international joumnal of breast cancer, vol.
1, 2016, AA.
1D 3645305, page 9, breast cancer screening for Ghanaians should start from early twenties.
M. Speaker, however, there is no comprehensive researches on the causes of breast cancer due to discrepancies in the data for various countries as well as inconsistencies in data collection and data quality.
Hence, early detection of the disease remains very important in an attempt to control it.
For this reason, WHO promotes comprehensive breast cancer control programs as part of national cancer control plans.
In view of this, I will call on the ministry of health to follow the steps of WHO in ensuring that we reduce the rate of women likely to suffer from this disease.
Speaker, the world Health Organization again reported that, there has being 20% increase in breast cancer issues in the year 2018 as compare to the previous year.
Considering the margin of increase in the numbers of breast cancer related issues, it is imperative that a lot more need to be done on breast cancer awareness creation.
In view of this, I will call on all breast cancer related Non-governmental organizations, Agencies, Departments and Civil Society Organizations to intensify their efforts to mitigate this problem especially through awareness creation.
Speaker, sufficient evidence by researchers in Afiica on breast cancer confirms the report by the WHO as the research findings suggests there is a growing incident of breast cancer in Africa.
The disease is curable and survival so the public must be aware and report to the hospital early if they find any breast abnormality so that they could be treated.
Speaker, the majority of deaths that occur in developing countries out of breast cancer is due to the fact that most women who are with breast cancer are diagnosed late.
This is mainly due to lack of awareness on early detection and barriers to health services.
This is the more reason why each of us must add our voices to the idea of awareness creation to help remedy the problem at its infant stages.
Speaker, fortunately, breast cancer is also preventive in a number of ways especially by practicing good health habits such as limiting the amount of alcohol intake, avoiding smoking.
Statistics proves that women who breast feed and are physically active are less prone to the disease.
Controlling one’s weight as well as avoiding exposure to radiation and environmental pollution are also preventive measures that can be taken by women.
Due to our working conditions in Ghana, many career women are not able to adequately breast feed their babies and there is virtually no time for exercising.
This is worrying as it can lead to breast cancer.
I admonish colleague women to take note of these preventive measures.
Speaker, I will again entreat our precious women to regularly visit hospitals designated for breast cancer screening to undertake this exercise for immediate detected.
Early detection helps in early treatment.
I also will call on all husbands to give the needed support to the women in the fight against this disease and do not see it as a problem for the women only.
Mr, Speaker, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) OF Ghana currently covers the cost of cryotherapy for cancer patients, Unfortunately for breast cancer it does not cover the cost of breast reconstruction surgery., We recommend the government take the necessary steps to extend the coverage to include same, if it requires amendment to the National Health Insurance Scheme Act (Act 654) Thank you
¢ .
STATEMENT ON THE PLIGHT OF THE PEOPLE OF FUVEME AND KPORKPORGBOR IN THE ANLO CONSTITUENCY OF THE KETA MUNICIPAUTY OF THE VOLTA REGION BY HON CLEMENT KOFf HUMADO, MP FOR ANLO CONSTITUENCY Rt.
Hon Speaker, | am making this statement in order to the draw attention of government, the people of Ghana and Intermational Agencies to the serious plight of the people of Fuveme and Kporkporgbor in the Anlo Constituency of the Keta Municipality as a result of the incessant erosion by high fidal sea waves, R Hon.
Speaker, the Kporkporgbor and Fuvemé communities used to be adjoining fishing communities within the Atiteti Electoral Area of the Anlo constituency.
These communities share the Lower Volla estuary with the Ada township in the Ada West District, The two communities used to have a population of 813 persons with 175 households (2000 Population and Housing Census of Ghana published in 2005 by the Ghana Statistical Services).
The people are mainly fishermen while the women undertake fish processing and frade in fish products.
Hon Speaker, in 2014, high tidal sea waves completely destroyed the Kporkporgbor community and the people had to flee to the nearest communities in order fo seek shelter.
This situation was given much coverage by the media especially JOY FM and Joy News on T}/flc&sL va\/.el as@fi%&m M and TV.
As | speak, this community is no more on the map of Ghana.
If has been completely lost to the sea.
As a result/ Anlo constituency ho‘gjfiost one polling station out of its 85.
Presently, the adjoining Fuveme community is clso under siege by high tidal sea waves which have destroyed more than half of the community with a lot of property and livestock lost.
The education of more than a hundred school going children has been distupted.
The people of Fuveme are desperate and feel left to their fate.
In July this year | led a team of media persons and the Municipal Chief Executive to the community D\V\ and the situation we saw was very desperate.
We are grateful for NADMO and the Ministry of fisherles and Aquaculture as well as Ministry of Gender and Social Profection and DIRECT AID Ghana (NGO) for their response by sending relief ifems to the affected people.
Though initially the people were very reluctant to leave their present place of abode, it is now obvious that we are about to lose this community dlso fo the sea.
The people of Fuveme have now finally agreed to relocate fo higher ground nearby and to rebuild their seflement.
This intended relocation is an emergency that will require the assistance of government and international agencies.