ghananlpcommunity/ghana-gov-speeches-sentences huggingface dataset:
Finally, government will set them up with the necessary toolkits to start their businesses.
These skills development programs will build the productive capacities and enhance the employability of young people to be able to create their own jobs and employ other people.
Youth development Policies for Job creation The NDC is committed to prioritizing youth development through various youth empowerment and entrepreneurship policies and programmes.
We take cognizance of the growing disappointment and frustration among the youth as result of the unemployment situation in the country which has been worsened by the ill-conceived and vindictive actions of the Akufo-Addo administration that have collapses many businesses and jobs.
The next NDC government will harness the potential of our youth by implementing comprehensive, multifaceted and innovative programmes that will create sustainable jobs with decent wages for the youth.
These will include: 1.
The establishment of the Young Entrepreneurs Development Programme (YEDEP) to support young entrepreneurs with technical and financial start-ups to expand their business with zero percent interest.
The One Million Coders Programme (OMCP) which will provide free training to one million (1,000,000) youth in order to equip them with knowledge and skills for coding and programming, web developing, apps development, among others.
The 1 million coders policy is an innovative initiative designed to project Ghana into the limelight of the digital economy by placing focus on coding.
The support from government in partnership with the private sector will unlock the potential of about a million young people whose ideas will be facilitated through coding.
Via this vehicle, we will have relevant responses to local and global challenges, as our coders will learn how to harness their skills to improve their livelihoods.
They will also become competitive by being available to multinationals who are already hiring our people with these skills.
Develop the Youth Enterprise Tax Waiver Policy to grant a 2-year tax holiday for youth start-ups/businesses.
Extend training and start-up kits for artisans in each district across the country based on the LESDEP model.
These and several other initiatives will be implemented to generate decent and well-paid jobs for our teeming unemployed youth.
NABCO BENEFICIARIES The next NDC government will integrate all persons currently engaged on ad hoc basis under the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) into the Public sector and make them permanent employees.
We will change the remuneration of NABCO beneficiaries from their current pittance allowances to decent wages that offer these young ones a decent living.
NABCO recruits can rest assured that under President John Dramani Mahama, they will have permanent jobs and be paid on time.
FUNDING SOURCES FOR THE AGENDA ONE MILLION JOBS Friends from the inky fraternity, we in the NDC are not oblivious of the huge financial commitment that comes with our ambitious Job Creation agenda.
We are however convicted in our resolve to deliver on our pledge to create a minimum of one million sustainable when elected because Ghanaians are need of it for survival.
Having done a critical analysis of our resource envelope vis-à-vis our current public spending, we have identified key areas we can conserve resources and free up fiscal space to fund our policies and programs including “Edwumapa”.
To start with, we will reset government’s spending priorities from consumption-related expenditures to Capital and productive expenditures that will create jobs and prosperity for all.
Also, we will cut down wasteful expenditures by reducing the number of Ministers by at least 40, which will translate into a saving of GH¢63,424,000.00.
We also intend to reduce the number of Presidential Staffers by at least 200, thereby saving the public purse about GH¢186,400,000.00 in four (4) years.
More importantly, we shall employ advanced technology to enhance and maximize revenue mobilization by ensuring strict tax compliance, the expansion of the tax net and efficient revenue mobilization.
Under the E-Proceed GRA Revenue Monitoring Project which we will be introducing, we project to generate at least GHS3,000,000,000 on an annual basis to fund the “Edwumapa” initiative.
We also intend to Revise the tax waiver regime to make available GH¢460,000,000.00 to fund job-related initiatives.
Additionally, we shall channel a greater percentage of our oil revenues, that is the Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA) from our three (3) oil fields into developmental and productive initiatives to create sustainable jobs for Ghanaians.
These are but a few of the measures we intend to undertake to generate the needed revenue to fund our vision for jobs and other policies.
Let no one deceive you that this is not possible.
It is very possible and we shall deliver.
CONCLUSION Distinguished colleagues from the media, Job creation will be the cardinal priority of the next NDC government.
Our flagship One Million Jobs Pledge dubbed “Edwumapa”, is not one of the usual political grandstanding sloganeering that has become synonymous with our opponents in government today.
On the contrary, “Edwumapa” is a product of deep soul-searching in our bid to find answers to the age-old problem of graduate and youth unemployment that continues to plague our nation.
It is our view, that if our nation fails to harness the productive energies of young people to develop Ghana, our country may one day pay dearly for the misuse of these very productive potentials of our youth in ways that can hurt both present and future generations.
It is for this reason that the Nation Builder, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama and the NDC are making an appeal to the Ghanaian electorate to choose the real, concrete and decent jobs that we are offering over the few ad hoc programs that the Akufo-Addo government has continuously trumpeted.
To the millions of unemployed people in Ghana today, particularly the youth, please don’t despair.
There is hope for you in the Peoples’ manifesto.
Vote John Dramani Mahama and the NDC for One Million permanent and decent well-paid jobs.
Signed, SAMMY GYAMFI Esq.
(National Communication Officer)
You are welcome to today’s press briefing which will focus on the claims made by the Vice President, Dr.
Bawumia during government’s recent Town Hall meeting in Accra and the NPP’s 2020 manifesto that was launched over the weekend.
The NDC has always been at the forefront of accounting to Ghanaians for their trust anytime we find ourselves in government.
As torchbearers of probity and accountability, the NDC acknowledges the duty of every government to account to the people for their mandate and stewardship.
Therefore in principle, we have no qualms about the decision by the Akufo Addo-government to showcase its achievements through the Results Fair they held in Accra last week Tuesday.
However, the presentation Ghanaians were fed with by the failed economic messiah turned “Mr.
Digitization”, who has earned the dubious reputation of engaging in the worst kind of political deception and chicanery, Dr.
Bawumia, lacked candor and was full of deliberate distortions of facts calculated to deceive the unsuspecting public.
The whole presentation was a cocktail of blatant falsehoods, ghost projects, “stolen” projects and shockingly mediocre accomplishments which will not even pass for the achievements of a rural Assemblyman, let alone a government that has had access to an unprecedented resource envelope of GHS370 billion.
BLATANT FALSEHOODS PEDDELED BY DR.
BAWUMIA Distinguished friends from the media, the Vice President peddled a lot of downright lies during his presentation which we shall disproof this morning through an evidence-based exposition, so that the Ghanaian people will come to know this deceptive Akufo-Addo government for who they really are.
First, Bawumia’s claim at page 56 of his speech that only 29 community Day SHS (E-Blocks) had been completed by 7th January, 2017 when the erstwhile Mahama government handed over power to the Akufo Addo-government is false.
Ladies and Gentlemen, our handing over notes supported by final payment certificates raised by the contractors who executed and completed those projects show that 46 and not 29 E-Blocks had been completed by the Mahama government at the time of exiting office.
This incontrovertible fact was corroborated was by the NPP’s own Minister of Education, Mathew Opoku Prempeh in an interview on “Ekosisen” on Asempa Fm on 6th March, 2017.
The claim by the NPP that some of the completed projects had not been furnished, hence were uncompleted is ridiculous as furnishing is not part of the construction process or scope of construction works of the E-Block school projects.
Second, the claim by Dr.
Bawumia on page 14 of his speech that the NDC did not complete any major road project in both the Upper East and Upper West regions is a barefaced lie.
Contrary to this false assertion, the facts show that within that period, the following major road projects were executed and completed in the Upper East and Upper West regions: • The Bolgatanga - Bongo road connecting Bolgatanga Municipality to Bongo District was completed.
• The Winkogo - Tongo road connecting Bolgatanga Municipality to Talensi District was completed.
• The Nadowli - Babile - Lawra road was initiated and completed by the NDC.
• Gwollu Town roads in Sissala West.
These are but a few of the several road projects which were executed by the Mills/Mahama administration in the two Regions referenced by Dr.
Buwumia between the period 2009 to 2016.
His claim that the NDC failed to complete a single major road project in the two regions between 2009-2016 is therefore false.
GHOST (NONEXISTENT) PROJECTS LISTED BY DR.
BAWUMIA AND GOVERNMENT’S DELIVERY TRACKER AS ACHIEVEMENTS Ladies and Gentlemen, after a painstaking investigations into the claims made by Dr.
Bawumia at the Town Hall Meeting and the delivery tracker which was launched at the program, we have identified hundreds ghost (nonexistent) projects and thousands of “stolen” Mahama and private-owned projects.
For want of space and time, we will limit ourselves to a few examples and support most of them with pictorial and video evidence to demonstrate this point.
Bawumia’s claim at page 41 of his speech that this government is constructing 13 housing units at Sekondi (Ituma Estate) which is about 70% complete is a figment of his own imagination as same does not exist anywhere in the Sekondi metropolis.
Bawumia’s claim at page 41 of his speech that this government is constructing 500 housing units at Sefwi Wiawso which is 20% complete is palpable falsehood, as no such project exist.
The claim at page 40 of Bawumia’s speech that this government is constructing 120 affordable housing units in the Talensi District of the Upper East region which is 20% complete is yet another lie, as no such project exist.
Dromankese town roads in the Bono East region have not been tarred as claimed by government’s “delivery tracker”.
This is a big insult to the Chiefs and people of Dromankese in the Nkoranza area of the Bono East Region who are enduring untold hardship due to the poor nature of their roads.
The claim on government’s “delivery tracker” that this government has rehabilitated the Anyinabrim Primary School in the Sefwi Wiawso Municipality is yet another lie.
No such rehabilitation has been undertaken at the said school.
The claim on government’s delivery tracker that the Akufo Addo-government has constructed an Astroturf in the Adenta constituency is another palpable falsehood, as no such project exists on the ground.
The claim on government’s delivery tracker of complete electrification of Ananekrom and Pataban townships in the Asante Akyem North Constituency of the Ashanti region is a lie.
No such project has been undertaken by this government, as the two towns don’t have electricity as we speak.
The claim on government’s delivery tracker of having constructed the Asuoso-Derma-Techimantia road in the Bono East Region as captured by government’s delivery tracker is yet another palpable falsehood, as no such road exists anywhere in the referenced area.
The claim on government’s delivery tracker about Re-roofing of cluster of schools at Akanteng in the Eastern region is a lie.
No such project has been undertaken by this government.
The claim on government’s delivery tracker about an ongoing 1D1F Palm Oil Processing factory in West Akim is a lie.
No such project exist.
The claim on government’s delivery tracker about an ongoing construction of solar powered water system at Dindani in the East Mamprusi Municipality (Nalerigu/Gambaga) is a lie.
No such project can be found in and around Dindani.
The claim on the delivery tracker about ongoing construction of a water system at Zangu-Vuga in the East Mamprusi Municipality (Nalerigu/Gambaga) is a lie.
As a matter of fact, Zangu-Vuga is in the West Mamprusi Municipality and not East Mamprusi Municipality as claimed.
But yet again, there is no such project in Zangu-Vuga in the West Mamprusi Municipality (Walewale) as claimed.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is instructive to note that, even in Walewale, the Vice President’s hometown, Dr.
Bawumia is conjuring nonexistent projects which is an insult to his own kinsmen and people.
The claim on government’s delivery tracker that government has constructed and completed a 1V1D project at Zandua in the West Mamprusi Municipality is false, as no such community exists in the West Mamprusi Municipality.
The claim about an ongoing construction of a six (6) seater toilet block for St.
Thomas Senior High/Tech at Asamankese in West Akim Municipality is another ghost project, as nothing like that exist on the ground.
The claim that there is an ongoing construction of a 12-unit classroom block for Pentecost SHS at Akropong in the Akuapem North Municipality is false, as no such project exist.
The claim of having completed a 10-seater toilet facility at Ahibenso in Bodi District is a lie, as no such project exist.
Also, the claim that this government has completed the Construction of 1 NO.
6 Units Classroom Block with Auxiliary Facilities at Debiso in the Bia West constituency is a lie, as no such project exist.
The claim of having completed the construction of a 16-seater water closet and 4 shower facility in selected communities in Bia West is also a lie, as no such project exist.
The claim about ongoing construction of a 2-storey dormitory block for Ghana Senior High School at Damango in the West Gonja Municipality is a fabricated lie, as no such school exists.
The claim about construction of a 6-unit classroom block at Jamara in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa Constituency is a lie, as no such project exist.
No Power Supply System at Afofosu in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa Constituency exist contrary to claims by government’s delivery tracker.
The claim of a 10-seater WC toilet at Anwhiam in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa Constituency does not exist.
The claim of a 10-seater WC toilet at Asikuma is a palpable lie.
The claim of Abamkrom Clinic in the Agona West Constituency of the Central region as contained on government’s delivery tracker is a ghost project.
The claim by the so-called delivery tracker that the Akufo-Addo government has completed the construction of the Anum Primary school at Anum Apapam in the Asuogyaman District in the Eastern region is a lie.
There is no town in Asuogyaman called Anum Apapam, and there is no block constructed by the NPP in Anum Presbyterian Primary School at the Anum that we know in Asuogyaman.
The Claim of construction works at Dabala market is a lie.
There is no such construction work ongoing in the Dabala market as claimed by the NPP on their website.
Friends from the media, one thing that is clear from the above undisputed facts we have provided is that, the Akufo-Addo government has very little to show for all the unprecedented resources (GHS370 billion) that has accrued to them, such that they have resorted to conjuring nonexistent projects as achievements.
This display of odious dishonesty by President Akufo Addo and his Vice, Dr.
Bawumia, is an insult to the good people of Ghana who have endured their misgovernance and insensitive policies in the last three and half years.
STOLEN MAHAMA AND PRIVATE-OWNED PROJECTS Distinguished friends from the media, apart from the hundreds of ghost (nonexistent) projects claimed by Dr.
Bawumia and government’s delivery tracker as achievements, there are equally thousands of Mahama and private-owned projects that have been appropriated by the 419 Akufo-Addo government.
However, for the sake of brevity, we shall cite a few verifiable examples to illustrate this point.
Ongoing construction of 2No.
6-unit classroom blocks with auxiliaries, borehole, and 10-seated micro-flush toilet at Soronowse/Kwaedenden in the Tain District.
This project was fully-funded and executed by the Rotary Club.
Completed 3 unit classroom block at Abomayaw in the Asuogyaman District.
This project was fully-funded and executed by “Pencil’s of Promise”, an NGO.
Completed school block at Surveyline in Asuogyaman District.
This project was executed yet again by “Pencil’s of Promise”, the same NGO mentioned above.
Completed 3-unit classroom block at Tortibo in Asuogyaman District.
This project was fully-funded and constructed yet again by “Pencil’s of Promise”, the same NGO.
Completed 1No 6-unit classroom block at Elluokrom.
This is a stolen project, as same was awarded and completed by the erstwhile Mahama government.
Construction of 12 Lockable stores at Sefwi Debiso.
This project was built by the NDC under the Mills administration.
Completed Conversion of Existing Ward to Theatre at Dadieso Hospital in the Suaman constituency.
This project was done by the Mahama administration.
Completion of health directorate bungalow at Sefwi Debiso in the Bia West Constituency.
This is also a Mahama project.
Completed construction of 8-unit classroom block at Teong in the Tempane District.
This school was constructed by the McDan foundation, an Non-Governmental Organization.
Completed construction of Modern livestock market at Possum in Bawku.
This project was funded and built by a group of NGOs (Action for Life, Air France and CLIP).
Completed CHPS compound at Boadua and Topreman (Akwatia) - This is another NDC project executed under the Mahama regime.
Completed 76-unit lockable stores at Asamankese – This is an NDC Project executed under the Mahama regime.
Completed Rehabilitation of 3-unit classroom block at Ataaso (Kwahu West - Nkawkaw) – This project was executed by an NGO called Original Volunteers.
Yensiso Basic School Rehabilitation (Akuapem North) - This is an NDC Project executed under the Mahama government.
2 Storey 40 Lockable Stores at Srodae(Ho Station - Koforidua)- This is an NDC project executed under President Mahama.
Completed Rehabilitation of 3-unit classroom block at Camp-Nsabah (Kwahu West - Nkawkaw) – This project was done by an NGO called Original Volunteers.
Six (6)-unit classroom block at Aworodo in the Ajumako Enyan Essiam Constituency.
This project was executed and completed by the Social Investment Fund, with Counterpart funding from the District Assembly under the Mahama administration.
Two new School Blocks at Breman Fawomanye.
These projects were initiated and completed by the Mahama government.
Completion of a 6-Unit classroom block at Etsii Abakah.
This project was commenced and completed by the Mahama government.
Construction of a 6-unit Classroom Block at Breman Bedum.
This project was commenced and completed by the Mahama administration.
Construction of a 3-unit classroom Block at Brakwa Eshiem.
Again, this project was initiated and completed by the John Mahama government.
Electricity extension to Assin Donkorkrom, Assin Jerusalem, Assin Camp, Assin Bereku Ninkyiso, Assin Benuye, Assin Atwereboana, Assin Ankaa, Assin Yaw Atta, Assin Kurofofrodo, Assin Kedadwen, Assin Ahasowodze, Assin Aniakragya, Assin Attah Panyin, Assin Techiman, Assin Adu Kwaku and Assin Adabo Twumasi.
All these electrification projects in the Assin North Constituency were initiated by the Mills/Mahama administration and completed by the year 2013.
The reconstruction of the Essei Lagoon Bridge started in 2011 and completed in 2013.
Completed construction of 6-unit classroom block with ancillary facilities at Piiteng in the Wa West Construction.
This is false, because this project was completed and handed over in June 2016.
Completed extension of Electricity at Poyentanga in the Wa West Constituency.
This claim is a lie, because the Poyentanga Electricity extension was done in 2016, and since then, absolutely nothing has been added.
Constructed CHPS Compound at Chum - Lambussie District in the Upper West Region.
This is another stolen project, because that facility was initiated by the NDC with funding from the 10% salary pay contribution by President Mahama’s appointees.
Re-roofing of classroom block at Chapuri in the Jirapa Municipality, Jirapa.
This project was fully sponsored by sons and daughters of Chapuri after every effort to get government support failed.
The desperate attempt to claim credit for it is therefore unfortunate.
Completed 6-unit Classroom Block at the Akropong School for the blind.
This is a daylight theft by government, because that project was constructed by the MTN Ghana Foundation.
What is even pathetic is that, boreholes, and mechanized water facilities that were fully-funded and executed by the Latter Day Saints Charities in 20 communities in the Sefwi Wiawso municipality such as Bosomoiso, Asawinso, Essakrom, Harunakrom, Kunumah, Aprompi, Brekuline, Abidjanline, Kojohunu, Attohkrom among others and communities in the Offinso North District such as, Akomadan, Nkenkaasu and Nkwankwaa, have all been captured by the deceptive Akufo Addo government as their achievements on their so-called delivery tracker.
Could it be that someone took monies from government for these projects and decided to use these projects which were fully-funded by the Latter Day Saints Charities as a cover-up?
Friends from the media, as we indicated from the outset, there are thousands of such “stolen” projects that were undertaken by the erstwhile Mahama administration and other private entities such as NGO’s, which have been appropirated by the shameless Akufo Addo-Government through their so-called delivery tracker.
We wish to humbly urge you in the media who are the fourth estate of the realm to conduct your own independent District by District fact-check of the projects listed by government’s delivery tracker in order to ascertain the truth for yourselves.
We have no doubt that your independent checks will confirm the fact that the so-called Government delivery tracker is a scam that cannot be relied upon as a source of credible information by either you in the media or the general public.
FALSE CLAIMS BY DR.
BAWUMIA ABOUT COST OF KWAME NKRUMAH INTERCHANGE Friends from the media, the claim by Dr.
Bawumia that the Kwame Nkrumah interchange cost $260 million dollars is a barefaced lie.
What Dr.
Bawumia did was that he added the cost of two separate and distinct projects (Kwame Nkrumah Interchange and the Ring Road Flyover) and created the impression as though that was the cost of just one project, the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange.
He then proceeded to engage in a pedestrian comparison of the cost of projects, which has different scope of works and specifications.
This mischief which was peddled by no less a person than the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, is shameful and reprehensible to say the least.
For the records, the cost of the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange project as approved by Parliament and expended by the contractor is 74.8 million euros equivalent to $90 million at the time.
This fact is contained in the Parliamentary Hansard of 16th August 2012, when the transaction was approved by the 5th Parliament of Ghana, with the full participation and approval of the then NPP minority.