ghananlpcommunity/ghana-gov-speeches-sentences huggingface dataset:
Madam Speaker, following the passage of the Mental Health Act, Government will adopt a community mental health care strategy to facilitate the implementation of the Act.
The required Legislative Instrument to operationalize other aspects of the Act will also be laid before Parliament.
EDUCATION Madam Speaker, this year, we will further intensify our commitment to free exercise books, free school uniforms and turn more schools under trees into brick and mortar classroom blocks.
We will also expand the Capitation Grant as well as the School Feeding Programme support.
The latter program has been restructured in such a way that the development partners which earlier pulled out on account of poor financial and procurement audit reports are considering resuming their financial support for the programme Government will continue to provide incentives and motivation packages for teachers, especially those in deprived areas.
Madam Speaker, in the co-ordinated programme of economic and social development policies I referred to earlier, we have noted the rate at which the computerized placement mechanism is blocking access to second cycle education by State of the Nation 2011 | Raising Ghana To The Next Level 14 pupils from basic schools in the catchment areas.
It has therefore been decided that from the 2011-12 academic year, the policy of selecting 30% of first year students from within 10-mile radius of where schools are situated will be restored.
Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Environment Science and Technology has already begun distributing computer notebooks to brilliant but needy science students.
In line with Government’s vision to expand ICT infrastructure development, this Administration has also put in place a Tertiary Institutions Internal Access Programme (TIIAP) of institutions to benefit from a discounted laptop scheme.
The first batch of beneficiaries of the Mathematics, Science and Technology Scholarship Scheme as promised in our manifesto will be awarded scholarships before the end of March.
The scheme covers needy but brilliant science biased students in second cycle and tertiary level institutions.
Madam Speaker, Government will continue to support the expansion of especially tertiary education including those in the private sector but will not allow a mushrooming of institutions without the appropriate accreditation.
As you are aware I have already cut the sod for work to begin on the promised two additional public universities in the Volta and Brong Ahafo Regions.
Madam Speaker, the sod-cutting for the commencement of works on the construction of the University of Health and Allied Sciences in the Volta Region, as well as the University of Energy and Natural Resources in the Brong Ahafo Region, is ample testimony to our commitment to breathe life into our manifesto pledges.
ROADS SECTOR Madam Speaker, I can confidently say that our roads sector expansion project is very much on course.
State of the Nation 2011 | Raising Ghana To The Next Level 15 Ongoing or completed projects include Tetteh Quarshie-Madina, Asankragwa-Enchi, Achimota-Ofankor, Kumasi-Techiman (Phase 2).
The Eastern Corridor road which links Accra through the Volta Region to the Northern Region will begin in earnest once this August House approves the financing arrangements.
A number of feeder road projects were completed in 2010 and more are to follow this year.
And Madam Speaker we cannot fail to notice that traffic lights in major urban centres some of which ceased functioning for about 10 years have been replaced with modern ones designed to work even when there are power outages.
Our busy intersections have therefore become less hazardous for motorists.
Of course, there is still a lot of work to be done and we are not relenting in our effort in this regard.
HOUSING Madam Speaker, The sod has just been cut for work to commence on the construction of an initial 30,000 housing units out of a total of 200,000 units to be completed in 5 years.
The first phase of the 30,000 units is targeted at the security agencies in all the 10 Regions in order to provide decent and acceptable accommodation for our men and women in uniform.
Subsequently, all other categories of workers will also benefit from the increase in our housing stock.
WATER State of the Nation 2011 | Raising Ghana To The Next Level 16 Madam Speaker, some progress is being made in the existing water supply situation.
Through rationing, many parts of Accra now have access to water.
The rehabilitation of water treatment plant and pipelines at Kpong which is expected to start this year as well as the ongoing ATMA Rural Water Supply Project will go a long way in further improving water supply.
The Kwanyako-Kasoa Water Interconnection Project has brought relief to the people of Kasoa, Awutu, Senya Beraku, Gomoa Fetteh and its environs.
The expansion of Kumasi Barekese Water Treatment Plant has also been completed.
The water treatment plants at Konongo, Kumawu and Kwahu and other projects covering Damongo, Essakyer, Bolgatanga, Navrongo, Bongo as well as several other District capitals and towns throughout the country are concrete evidence of our determination to meet the Millennium Development Goals of water for all by 2015.
EMPLOYMENT Madam Speaker, our massive infrastructure expansion plans in the areas of housing, roads and railways, will open up lots of job opportunities for many categories of our labour force.
The National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) continues to expand its operations and is giving employment to lots of our youth.
Our Youth in Agriculture Programme is also going to create more jobs especially after the Accra Plains irrigation project takes off.
Madam Speaker, our security agencies have already started recruitment exercises which will see a number of our youth in uniform once they complete their training programmes.
It is also anticipated that once our financial institutions respond appropriately and reduce the cost of credit, the ability to State of the Nation 2011 | Raising Ghana To The Next Level 17 access loans will stimulate industry growth which will in turn create opportunities for job creation.
YOUTH AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT Madam Speaker, Madam Speaker, my Christmas card for last year featured a picture of the gallant Black Stars who did the nation proud in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
I meant it as a signal that our country’s heroes will always be remembered and that Ghana is worth dying for.
Once again, on behalf of all the people of Ghana I congratulate them for doing the nation proud.
We must strive to maintain the high standards Ghana has set in world football.
In this regard, the Youth and Sports Ministry is being tasked to collaborate with the GFA and private stakeholders to rebuild colts football as a base for the growth of Ghana’s football.
Other sporting disciplines will also be used as rallying points to harness the potential of the youth.
Madam Speaker, we are going make an effort to reorient the psyche of our youth towards what we consider to be Ghanaian values – especially on the issue of moral consciousness.
The Ministry of Education will be working in conjunction with the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture as well as the relevant state and private entities to reinforce Arts and Culture Festivals in second cycle institutions.
Also, Choral Festivals will be organized from the district to the national level.
The idea is to have a National Festival of Arts, Culture and Choral Music championed by the youth to reignite their sense of belonging.
State of the Nation 2011 | Raising Ghana To The Next Level 18 CORRUPTION Madam Speaker, one governance issue that will forever remain close to my heart, is the fight against corruption.
As a way of strengthening institutions of state for the fight against corruption and provide the needed teeth to bite, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has been reengineered and named the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) with prosecutorial powers.
About a fortnight ago, Ghanaians watched a shocking expose of corrupt activities and practices involving revenue collection at the Tema Port.
Last year, there was a similar expose on cocoa smuggling along the country’s borders.
I expect the Ghana Revenue Authority to relentlessly pursue people who fail to, or, under-declare incomes simply to avoid paying taxes because the principle of equity demands that the burden of tax should be shared among all citizens.
I also expect the management of the Ghana Revenue Authority and Customs Excise and Preventive Services (CEPS) for that matter to act without delay to restore public confidence in the organization.
Madam Speaker, In respect of the Ghana Standards Board and Food and Drugs Board, I expect them to collaborate to stop the dumping of sub-standard goods on the Ghanaian market.
Madam Speaker, I am also concerned about reports from the Auditor-General of lack of co-operation by some government departments.
Accordingly, I have directed the Auditor-General to invoke the letter and spirit of Act 584 on the withholding of salaries and other emoluments and privileges to persons who fail to heed queries from the Auditor General’s Department.
State of the Nation 2011 | Raising Ghana To The Next Level 19 Madam Speaker, we will continue to cooperate with civil society and anti-corruption agencies to continue to wage a concerted war against corruption.
SECURITY AND SAFETY Madam Speaker, we are not taking lightly the potential threats to the security of the oil and gas industry.
The government has taken steps to enable the Ghana Navy maintain a strong maritime presence.
The Ghana Air Force is also being re-equipped with transport aircrafts, surveillance planes and helicopters.
These will enhance the capacity of the Ghana Armed Forces to ensure the country’s territorial integrity and provide safe sea passage to all legitimate traffic while combating illegal activities including, bunkering, drug trafficking, poaching and pair trawling.
Madam Speaker, without doubt, the Ghana Police Service with the help of other security agencies have clamped down heavily on crime – especially armed robbery.
I am not saying that there are no cases of robbery; what I am saying is that the armed robbers are no longer operating with impunity.
This year, with the recruitment of an additional 3,200 personnel to beef-up the Police Service, crime will be fought with extra zeal.
I am concerned with cases of unsolved murders and I expect the Police Administration to seek external help and collaboration where necessary.
Late last year, I ordered the re-opening of investigations into serial killing of women which occurred in the period 1998- 2000.
State of the Nation 2011 | Raising Ghana To The Next Level 20 That sad chapter in our history will not be closed until we get to the bottom of those serial killings.
Still on security, Madam Speaker, fire outbreaks continue to cause havoc throughout the country especially in the markets.
In this action year, I expect District, Municipal and Metropolitan Chief Executives to mount a serious check on violations of regulations and bye-laws and remove unauthorized structures which obstruct access to markets, drains and fire hydrants.
Public institutions are also expected to follow up on fire audit reports and improve safety.
This year, the Fire Service is expected to take delivery of a fairly large number of fire-fighting engines and gear for its personnel.
Madam Speaker, as Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, and having sworn to protect the integrity of Mother Ghana, I have put the security agencies on red alert and they are under strict instructions to deal decisively within the ambit of the law with anybody or group of persons who will attempt to disturb the peace and stability of this dear nation of ours.
We will not sit idly by and allow some persons to throw this country into a state of chaos just to satisfy their self-centered and inordinate political desires.
WAR ON DRUGS Madam Speaker, when I stood before this House in my first year as President, I pledged to wage a concerted and relentless war against the drug menace.
Two years down the line, I can confidently say to the people of Ghana that we have acquitted ourselves very well in this regard.
I have no regrets subjecting myself to a body check at the Kotoka International Airport.
State of the Nation 2011 | Raising Ghana To The Next Level 21 It is the surest way to lead by example as well as energize the NACOB officials not to allow any official or persons purporting to be so to bully them.
Madam Speaker, in the wake of recent startling revelations about the unacceptable extent to which Ghana was used as a major link in the drug trade, I have decided that a full scale investigation into the disappearance of cocaine from the Police vault as well as the 77 parcels of cocaine which entered Ghana's territorial waters aboard the MV Benjamin vessel and mysteriously got missing should be re-opened.
I do this in the knowledge that administrative enquiries were conducted into both cases.
The twist however is that the missing cocaine was not found and the culprits were not identified.
With a Presidential Commission of Enquiry, we hope to be able to do both.
We will not relent in our fight against the narcotics trade and I believe that the majority of Ghanaians are happy not to be waking up to daily stories of cocaine here, cocaine there and cocaine everywhere.
We will continue to make Ghana an unattractive destination for the narcotics trade and will collaborate fully with cross- border and other foreign operatives to flush out the drug barons and their couriers.
DISCIPLINE Madam Speaker, it is a fact that when it comes to discipline on our roads, we cannot produce a script that we can be proud of.
We are constantly waking up to gory stories about the carnage on our roads, and this cannot continue.
We cannot continue to sit and watch the wanton loss of precious lives.
I have given strict instructions to the Ghana Police and other law enforcement agencies to rigidly apply the appropriate State of the Nation 2011 | Raising Ghana To The Next Level 22 sanctions in dealing with all who fall foul of traffic laws.
I have also instructed the Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to conduct an immediate review of internal processes for the acquisition of licenses.
This is to ensure that we do not issue licenses to people who are not qualified to have them.
The Attorney-General’s office is to review and strengthen legislation to ensure drivers and owners of broken down vehicles that stay on the roads and cause accidents and deaths pay the price for it.
LAW AND ORDER AND THE MEDIA Madam Speaker, all of us subscribe to the rule of law and free speech.
It is however not enough to believe or proclaim, but rather to practice one’s belief in an acceptable and peaceful manner.
Political stability is the gift of political discipline by all actors.
Those of us in leadership positions bear the heaviest burden in ensuring that our actions and utterances do not incite lawlessness and damage our sense of community.
The media has a huge responsibility in the effort we must all make to encourage rational exchanges among reasonable people with different views.
Let us all keep one thing in mind; Just because you have the right to say something does not mean you should.
Exercising good judgment is important.
We must not always find fault with each other; sometimes it also helps to tell stories about Ghanaians rising to the occasion.
State of the Nation 2011 | Raising Ghana To The Next Level 23 Madam Speaker, the draft Broadcasting Bill has been too long on the drawing board.
It is time to consider seriously its enactment to help control the excesses that sometimes characterize exchanges in the electronic media.
My expectation is that when the time comes, the debate on its provisions will not fall into predictable patterns of partisan discourse.
FOREIGN POLICY Finally, Madam Speaker, a word on our foreign policy.
I believe we have abundant experience and expertise in this country in the art of diplomacy and peacekeeping.
We will draw on this expertise in our common desire to help our brothers and sisters in Cote d’Ivoire find a lasting solution to the political impasse there.
This is not the moment for anyone with the interest of Ghana at heart to start beating war drums.
I will always respect and support calm and thoughtful resolution of disputes.
Ghana will continue to participate and support peace-keeping initiatives across the world to the extent that our resources and capacity will permit.
We are keeping an eye on events in North Africa and hope that things will simmer down quickly.
Soon, Africa will welcome Southern Sudan as a new country following the conclusive results of the referendum held recently.
The Government of Sudan deserves commendation for the co-operative spirit with which it has handled the process.
State of the Nation 2011 | Raising Ghana To The Next Level 24 CONCLUSION Madam Speaker, I am confident that the challenges notwithstanding, the policy choices and concrete development programme of this Administration will raise Ghana to the next level with its promise of a better future in a Better Ghana.
In the two years of this Administration, our pre-occupation has been to restore the economy to good health, improve living conditions, rehabilitate and expand infrastructure, as well as strengthen democratic institutions and practice.
My pledge is to build a Better Ghana and I remain anchored to that pledge.
Today, in addition to cocoa, gold and other natural resources we also have oil.
God forbid that we let this moment slip through our hands.
That is why as President, I will remain focused and continue to serve this country with a clear conscience as we begin the 3rd year of this Administration.
It is my firm conviction that if we spend a little bit more of our time looking up, instead of spending all the time looking down, we will accept that we are a blessed people living in a blessed nation.
Madam Speaker, we have no other place called home; that is why we must allow the things that unite us to override the things that divide us.
Whether from the, East West, North, or South, we are all Ghanaians.
No one group is superior to the others; we are one people with a common destiny so we must forge ahead with a united sense of purpose of building a nation that this generation and future generations will be proud of.
And let no one think that inciting or priming others for violence is the way to determine the outcome of elections.
This country has come too far to travel down that road again.
State of the Nation 2011 | Raising Ghana To The Next Level 25 The foundation we have laid for peace, stability, and for the building of a Better Ghana will endure.
Madam Speaker, Ghana will not die; Ghana will live to proclaim the glory of God.
Madam Speaker, we have built a solid foundation; we will build a solid structure; and we will build a Better Ghana.
May God continue to bless our homeland Ghana and make us great and strong.
I thank you for the opportunity, and I thank you for your kind attention
STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER FOR LANDS AND NATURAL RESOURCES.
SAMUEL A.
3INAPOR.
ON THE 2022 EDITION OF GREEN GHANA DAY WHICH IS SLATED FOR FRIDAY JUNE 10.
MADE ON THE FLOOR OF PARLIAMENT WEDNESDAY JUNE 7.
2022 Thank you, Mr.
Speaker for the opportunity to make this Statement, as we approach the 2022 edition of the Green Ghana Day.
Speaker, in two days (2) time, specifically on Friday, June 10, 2022, the President of the Republic, H.E.
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, will be leading the entire nation to plant, at least, twenty million (20,000,000) trees across the country, as part of our aggressive afforestation and reforestation programme, to restore our lost forest cover, and contribute to global climate action.
Let me, at the outset, thank you, Rt.
Speaker, and Honourable Members of this august House, for your enthusiasm and support during the maiden edition of the Green Ghana Day, held on June 11, 2021, which contributed immensely to the success of the day.
, of Ghana " Page 1 of 8
jPARLI/iENT OF GHANA LIBRARY STATEMENT BY SAMUEL OKUDZETO ABLAKWA, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR THE NORTH TONGU CONSTITUENCY AND RANKING MEMBER, COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO MARK THE UNITED NATIONS' DAY TO END IMPUNITY FOR CRIMES AGAINST JOURNALISTS Right Honourable Speaker, I am most grateful for the opportunity to make this Statement.
Last Saturday, the 2nd of November, 2019 was commemorated by UN member states as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.
UN Secretary General, Antonio Gutteres in an address: "noted and condemned the rise in the scale and number of attacks on journalists and media workers, as well as incidents that make their work much harder, including threats of prosecution, arrests, imprisonment, denial of journalistic assess and failures to investigate and prosecute crimes against them."
According to UNESCO report titled: "Intensified Attacks, New Defences", more than 1,100 journalists have been killed between 2006 and 2018 for reporting the news and bringing information to the public.
On average, this constitutes one death every four days.
In nine out of ten cases, the killers go unpunished.
Impunity leads to more killings and is often a symptom of a worsening conflict and the breakdown of law and judicial systems.
Mr Speaker, it is in recognition of the far-reaching consequences of impunity, especially of crimes against journalists, that the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/68/163 at its 68th session in 2013 which proclaimed 2 November as the 'International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against journalists' (IDEI).
Mr Speaker, the resolution urged Member States to implement definite measures countering the present culture of impunity.
STATEMENT ON THE RECENT DAMAGE OF POWER TRANSMISSION PYLON BELONGING TO GRIDCo BY SOME UNKNOWN NATION WRECKERS AND THE NEED FOR URGENT PREVENTIVE MEASURES.
BY HONOURABLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR TARKWA- NSUAEM.
GEORGE MIREKU DUKER.
Mr Speaker, we were dumb founded to hear the hacking down of one of the high voltage transmission pylons belonging to the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) within the Tema enclave on Monday, 25^^ March, 2019.
The hacked down pylon fell on an adjacent tower in the process.
Mr Speaker, this despicable act of vandalism to the transmission pylon which occurred around 1:30am on Monday saw the whole power generation systems losing some 180 megawatts of power.
According to GRIDCo, the damaged tower forms part of the transmissional chain that transmit power from Karpower, VRA and AKSA to the national grid.
The unfortunate situation resulted in power interruptions to parts of Greater Accra including Dansoman, Kasoa, Swan Lake and parts of Westem and Ashanti Regions respectively.
Mr Speaker, the intention to cause pandemonium in the country is a cause to worry as this same incident has been happening in other jurisdictions.
Mr Speaker, on March 8, 2019 the people of Venezuela were shocked to the marrow, when saboteurs waged an "Electrical War" to cut out power supply poles, leaving millions in the dark.
Mr Speaker, the state-owned electricity operator Corpoelec blamed the outage on an act of sabotage at the Guri Dam.
Mr Speaker, on November 22, 2015 the Russian government announced a state of emergency in the disputed Crimean Peninsula late Saturday evening after power to the regions was suddenly cut in an apparent act of sabotage.
Mr Speaker, there is a notorious power saboteur group named as "Dragonfly" based in the United States of America who have been operating under cover to dismantle electricity power installations in the world.
They have been in operation since 2011 and have been targeting electricity transmission infrastructures, electricity generation infrastructures, petroleum pipelines etc.
and their target operations have so far been Poland, Romania, Greece, Italy, Serbia, France, USA, etc.
Mr Speaker, these examples are enumerated to guide us to be informed of the trending calculated saboteurs who can practically cause mayhem in the power sector to infringe on the economic growth of our country.
Mr Speaker, Ghana could be a target if local perpetrators form a cartel with some of these groups.