ghananlpcommunity/ghana-gov-speeches-sentences huggingface dataset:
Speaker, * Last year Government launched the 10-year Natural Resources Management Programme, as well as the country's first National Land policy to curb the general indiscipline associated with the acquisition and disposal of Land.
Government also restructured the administrative machinery of the Land Title Registry and the Land Valuation Board.
Speaker, * This year efforts will be intensified to commercialize the activities of the scientific and technological institutions under the Ministry of Environment Science and Technology.
As part of the programme the institutions will link up their collaboration with the District Assemblies to help in the effective dissemination of scientific knowledge.
Of particular interest is the application of biotechnology in food preservation, health, manufacturing industry and environmental management.
The Environmental Protection Agency will among other measures, continue with its programme of providing various stakeholders with the training they need to ensure environmental stewardship.
Speaker, * In the tourism sector, government will continue to emphasize on Cultural Tourism development programmes.
In this regard, we will vigorously pursue the Slave Route Project to enable us widen our tourist market in the Americas, the Carribean Region and Europe.
============================= Page break ======================= * Mr.
Speaker * Health infrastructure has seen unprecedented improvement within the last few years.
The number of government health facilities increased from 674 in 1994 to 859 by the middle of 1999.
Similarly the number of hospitals in the public sector increased from 62 in 1994 to 82 in 1999.
These improvements have been translated into overall improvements in our health indices.
Our people are living longer and more children are surviving the critical childhood years.
Infant mortality rate dropped from 66.4 per 1000 live births in 1993 to 56.7 in 1999.
Under-five mortality rate also dropped from 119.4 per 1000 live births in 1993 to 107.6 in 1999.
Total fertility rate has gone down from 5.5 to 4.6, an indication of the success of our population and family planning policies.
Speaker, * The programme to eradicate polio by the end of this year is well on target.
In 1998, there were 23 confirmed cases of polio in the country.
In 1999, only 2 cases of polio were detected.
Guinea worm which was almost eradicated is suddenly showing signs of resurgence.
Reported cases dropped from 180,000 in 1089 to under 4,500 in 1996 but increased to about 5,500 in 1999.
The fight against the disease will be intensified with renewed vigour.
Speaker, * Whilst the programme to control epidemics yielded successful results with diseases such as Cerebro Spinal Meningitis and Yellow Fever, we had outbreaks of cholera in the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Central and Upper East Regions.
These have been the result of poor sanitation in these areas and the recent floods in the northern sector.
However our preparedness to manage these cases led to a low fatality rate.
A Buruli Ulcer case search conducted last year showed 5,440 cases distributed throughout the country but concentrated mostly in the Ashanti, Central and Greater Accra Regions.
The disease will continue to attract special attention.
========================== Page break ============================= Particular attention will also be paid to tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.
By the end of the year 2000 we will aim at further improving the treatment success rate of tuberculosis to 65%.
The Specialist Outreach Programme has been expanded to cover seven speciality areas and involves all regional and selected district hospitals.
Plans for the procurement of special equipment, instruments and devices to enable the specialists to stay longer and operate in the regions are being pursued and will be implemented in the year 2000.
Speaker, * Renovation of structures to serve as facilities for the School of Allied Health Professionals has begun.
A team of experts from the Ministry of Health, the Medical Schools and the Private Sector has been convened with clear terms of reference to develop modalities for setting up the long awaited local postgraduate medical college.
Speaker, * The implementation of cost recovery and exemptions policy continues to be improved.
In 1999, directives went out to all regions and districts to exempt children under five for all services and to exempt entitled patients attending mission facilities at the district level.
The total exemption budget for 1999 was ten billion cedis.
It is regrettable however that although discretionary authority has been given to heads of facilities to exempt needy persons, the verification process continues to pose a major challenge.
A nation wide survey to examine the administration and management of the exemptions for targeted groups and the impact on the utilization of health services was undertaken.
The results will be used to strengthen implementation.
In 1999, the Ministry of Health reviewed the pilot Health Insurance Scheme in the Eastern Region as well as other private and community based schemes.
The results favoured a multi-scheme comprising of private, social and community based health insurance schemes.
============================ Page break ======================== Several community based schemes such as the ones in Nkoranza, Damongo, Bunkpurugu and Gonja West are already running and will receive support from government.
The Dangbe West Community Based Health Insurance Scheme which covers the whole district will be supported to take off this year.
Speaker, * Government will continue to expand coverage and improve quality of services through continued development of the health infrastructure.
The refurbishment of the Keta, Kibi, Yendi and Koforidua hospitals will be completed this year.
The construction of 26 new health centres under the OPEC and SAUDI FUND PHASE II will commence.
Major refurbishment of the Bolgatanga Hospital and the upgrading of Tamale hospital will also start this year.
Speaker, * The persistent human resource problems of the health sector will be tackled.
Intake into the pre-service training schools will be increased, starting with the nursing training schools, some of which will be provided with the necessary resources to substantially increase their intake by the end of the year.
Speaker, * A Technical Committee set up to advise on the modalities for setting up the Educational Trust Fund has submitted its report to the Ministry.
The report is being reviewed in the light of the conclusions and recommendations of the National Education Forum which was held in November, 1999.
The provision of infrastructural facilities in support of the FCUBE continues to make satisfactory progress.
The first Phase involving the construction of 512 Staff Houses, 81 Classroom Blocks and 81 four seater KVIP toilets, in 48 Districts are scheduled for completion by the end of March 2000.
Phase II of the programme involving the construction of 688 staff houses; 69 classroom blocks and 69 technologically sound toilet facilities will commence in April and is expected to be completed in ============================ Page break =========================== November/December 2000.
Additionally, 2000 classrooms will be rehabilitated and classrooms furniture provided in all the 110 districts under the same programme.
The $17.0 million Primary Education Rehabilitation Project will also come on stream during the year with the award of contracts within the first quarter of 2000.
In all, 510 three-unit classroom blocks with furniture will be provided in 87 districts of the country by December 2001.
Speaker, * The successful implementation of Phase I of the Adult Functional Literacy Programme resulted in the reduction of the national illiteracy rate from 69% to 52%, of whom 60% were women.
The second phase of the Programme will take off in the first quarter of this year.
As in Phase I, the predominant target population will be learners aged between 15 and 45 years with a focus on women and rural dwellers and is expected to further reduce the illiteracy rate from the current 52% to below 40%.
Speaker, * Principals have been appointed to work towards the establishment of the Bolgatanga and Wa Polytechnics announced in my address last year.
The first batch of students for the two institutions will hopefully by admitted in the 2000/2001 academic year.
Government has programmed a 12% annual growth rate for the universities and 15% for Polytechnics over the next three years.
This should bring total student enrolment for the 1999/2000 academic year in the Universities, Polytechnics, the Institute of Professional studies and the Ghana Institute of Languages to 57,137.
This figure is projected to increase to 74,137 by 2002.
With the establishment of Private Universities and the participation of private estate developers in the provision of hostel facilities on University campuses, a significant increase in the admission of qualified candidates is expected over the years.
It is noteworthy that the first intake of 200 Distance Education students at the University College of Education, Winneba have written their first Semester examinations and course development activities in the other participating Universities are at an advanced stage.
========================== Page break ========================== * Mr.
Speaker, * The process to achieve the objectives of the FCUBE programme will be accelerated in 2000 with increased attention being paid to supervision and management.
We are working towards the achievement of a pupil/basic school textbook supply ratio of 1:1 in respect of the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Science and Environmental Studies.
The annual National Girls' Education Week will be organised this year as well and the Science, Technology and Mathematics Education Clinic for girls will be expanded to benefit more girls from Junior Secondary Schools.
It is projected to reduce the drop out rate for girls in the primary schools from 30% to 20% and at the Junior Secondary Schools from 21% to 15%.
To help address public concerns regarding low enrolment and poor academic performance in community and rural secondary schools, the Ministry of Education will rationalise the allocation of teachers and other school materials and resources, with particular attention being paid to the needs of under-subscribed and academically weak schools.
Speaker, * Following the approval by Parliament of the loan for the establishment of the 20 Technical Vocational Education Resource Centres, ten including the Accra Technical Training Centre and the Kumasi Technical Institute will have their workshops and classrooms rehabilitated to receive new equipment and tools.
The remaining 10 centres will similarly be rehabilitated in 2001.
It is expected that on completion the Centres will increase the enrolment of students on the respective programmes by over 50%.
The rehabilitation of the 38 Teacher Training Colleges which started in 1998 with funding support of KfW of Germany at a total cost of DM39 million will be completed in the course of the year.
To sustain efforts at ensuring the admission of well qualified candidates to these Colleges, the Teacher Training College Entrance Examination will be re-introduced this year.
District Assemblies will also be expected to sponsor candidates to Teacher Training Colleges to ensure the supply and retention of teachers in their communities.
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Speaker, * The issue of relevance of some Tertiary programmes to national development objectives has been identified as one of the major causes of the rising trend of graduate unemployment in this country.
To help address the problem, an assessment of the structure of tertiary programmes and their relationship to labour market demands will be conducted by the National Council for Tertiary Education in collaboration with the National Development Planning Commission.
Speaker, * The expansion of infrastructural and academic facilities in our tertiary institutions will continue to receive priority attention of Government.
To this end, additional funding support will be provided for the completion of the University of Ghana Chemistry block, the clinical students hostel at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, and the new Central Library Complex at University of Cape Coast.
On the completion of these projects, the University of Ghana should be able to increase substantially the intake of science students to achieve the 60/40 Science/Arts ratio, while the School of Medical Sciences of KNUST should also be in a position to increase its total enrolment from 593 to 700 as from the 2000/2001 academic year.
Speaker, * 1999 witnessed very turbulent industrial unrests in both the private and public sectors.
Whilst the public sector unrests were mainly due to the implementation of the Ghana Universal Salary Structure, many of the industrial actions in the private sector were due to misconceptions of rights and responsibilities of both management and workers.
If past experience is anything to go by, we can anticipate that in an election year such as this, we are likely to experience increased agitation on the labour front.
The Ministry of Employment has therefore been directed to be more pro-active this year and to ensure that no delays occur in salary negotiations especially those concerning the public sector.
In this connection, the Central Management Board will serve as the chief negotiator on behalf of Government and all public services workers organizations including the Civil Service.
Indeed, the Board is already doing this and it is my hope that the negotiations would also help to address some of the problems associated with the Ghana Universal Salary Structure.
=============================== Page break ======================== At the same time, MR SPEAKER, I would like to urge all workers and union executives and stake holders to appreciate the need to moderate demands during this difficult period the nation finds itself.
We should not use the current constraints as a pretext for demonstrations, protests and more demands.
Instead, we should stand shoulder to shoulder in a common effort to mitigate the effect of the crippling external factors on the national economy.
Speaker, * As Ghana strives to attract more investors, the need for a flexible Labour Market free from Government intervention is more imperative now than ever before.
Government intends to place before Parliament this year a Bill which will establish a new framework for developing a more satisfactory system for the resolution of labour disputes and the protection of the interests of workers and employers to ensure a better environment for business and for progress.
Speaker, * This year, we intend to double the intake of the NVTI Centres which have steadily increased by 70% in the last two years in order to provide employable skills for our youth.
A national disability policy has been formulated to improve services and the responsibility of society towards persons with disability.
In this direction Government in 2000 will place before Honourable Members a Bill to establish a National Council on Disability to promote the rights of people with disabilities, while ensuring that opportunities exist for them to receive education and training, to gain employment and have access to social services.
Speaker, * In the road sector, priority will continue to focus on maintenance and rehabilitation works as well as maintaining broad equity among geographical locations.
We shall also continue to work closely with our development partners to secure funding for road reconstruction so as to obtain the necessary regional balance in the provision of roads.
===============================Page break ====================== A total amount of ø371.95 billion is proposed to be spent this year on maintenance works on trunk, feeder and urban roads.
28 bridges will be constructed and 1,200 kilometres of non-maintainable roads will be up-graded.
Speaker, * The following projects among others will be undertaken in the Year 2000: Surfacing of Ekyemanfrom – Amankwakrom road Improvement of Kwamepong Nkwanta – Dunkusen road in the Afram Plains.
Surfacing of Huhunya – Boti Falls road Rehabilitation of Dzolo – Kpedze – Todze road Rehabilitation of Dadieso – Kwasuo – Frantaline road Rehabilitation of Wiase – Yiziisi – Tantala road Rehabilitation of Gbidire – Nabule road Rehabilitation of Zebilla – Kamensa road and the Rehabilitation of Atronie Junction – Mim road.
Speaker, * Under Urban Roads 10.64, kilometers will be regravelled, 50 kilometres resealed and 41 kilometres resurfaced while 21 kilometres will be rehabilitated.
60 kilometres of drainage works will be undertaken Maintenance of drainage structures will continue in the Ga District and the five major cities covered by the Department of Urban Roads operations.
Some major road projects which will be completed this year include: 1.
Gyato Zongo – Atebubu – Yeji road 2.
Awaso - Bibiani – Nobekaw road 3.
Nobekaw - Bediakokrom road 4.
Awiankwanta – Kumasi road 5.
Sawla – Bole Section of the Wa – Bamboi road and 6.
The overlay of Yamoransa – Takoradi Road.
Speaker, * The Accra – Yamoransa Road Project will start this year.
Other projects which are scheduled to be started are 1. the Apedwa – Bunso Section and the Bunso – Anyinam Section of the Achimota – Anyinam Road.
Asankragwa – Enchi road 3.
Bamboi – Bole road and the 4.
Brewinease – Oti Damanko – Yendi road.
Speaker, * Bridge projects to be continued include 3 bridges over River Go, River Kusu and River Tano on the Tepa Junction – Goaso road 6 bridges over River Ankobra at Hiawa, River Anumeri at Jomoro, River Afram at Aframso, River Pra at Ofoaso, River Suskuliga near Gambaga and River Tintaraga at Gbintre.
The bridge over river Tano between Elubo and Asemkrom in the Western Region will be completed.
The Gbefi Bridge over the River Dayi to link Hohoe and Kpandu will be rehabilitated.
The Mishio Bridge to integrate the West Mamprusi District of the Northern Region will be completed.
Speaker, * The restructuring of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority to convert it from a service providing Port Authority into a facilities provider will continue under the Gateway Programme.
Government will continue to pursue funding for dredging and construction of a new quay at Tema.
Speaker, * In the air transport sector, emphasis will be on programmes to advance the "Liberalised Skies" programmes of the Gateway Project.
The provision of basic infrastructure services for the Airport City will be completed for main constructional work by the Private sector to commence.
The phase II rehabilitation programme of Kotoka International Airport involving the extension of the runway and improvement of terminal facilities will be continued.
=========================== Page Break =========================== * Mr.
Speaker, * The Government in 2000 will continue to rationalize the water sector to make it more responsive to the demands of our people.
Some key programmes that are planned for execution during the year include the rehabilitation of about 33 major water supply systems countrywide.
Rehabilitation works on the water systems at Cape Coast, Kwanyako, Asikuma and Dunkona are progressing satisfactorily and are expected to be completed in the course of the year.
Government is also working to secure funds for the rehabilitation of the Baifikrom Water System.
The second phase to expand the capacity of the Kumasi Water Supply System has started.
Work has also commenced on the systems at Effiduase-Asokore, Juaben Kona, Mampong and Tepa.
The second phase of the planned rehabilitation works on the Sunyani Water System as well as work on the Berekum and Dormaa-Ahenkro systems have also commenced.
The expansion works on the Tamale Water System has been completed and commissioned.
Major expansion works envisaged for the Tamale Water System have been developed and are currently being evaluated whilst financial arrangements for early commencement of the project are being pursued.
Construction works will begin this year on the expansion of major water treatment plants at Kpong, Weija, Barekese and Abesim whilst the rehabilitation of the Akwapim Ridge Water System will commence subject to the completion of a loan agreement between the Governments of Ghana and Spain.
Speaker, * For the 2000 financial year Government intends to provide 660 new boreholes, 350 new hand-dug wells; 40 mechanized community pipe systems and 30 new gravity pipe systems.
The rehabilitation of 1000 boreholes and 500 hand-dug wells countrywide will also be undertaken.
The Community Water and Sanitation Agency will also construct 1300 new household places of convenience, 100 new institutional places of convenience, as well as train 2000 caretakers, 400 area mechanics and 100 artisans to manage rural water and sanitation facilities.
======================== Page break =========================== * Mr.
Speaker, * The programme of Sea Defence along Ghana’s 590 kilometres coastline, Ecological Restoration of Lagoons and the Management of drainage systems will continue this year.
In the 2000 fiscal year, Government will spend 19 billion cedis to continue work on the critical area at Ada, Akplabanya, Prampram Ningo, La Phillip Quaicoe, Elmina, Nkontompo, Ngyiresia, Dixcove, Komenda, Axim, New Amanful/Funkoe, Butre, Price Akatakyie and Senya Breku.
Actual construction of the Keta Sea Defence Project will commence in the first quarter of this year.
Work on the Korle Lagoon Ecological Restoration Project including sanitation measures in the vicinity of the Lagoon will also begin this year.
Government has also planned to spend 12.47 billion cedis to continue works on most of the primary drains in the national capital this year Some critical Regional and District drainage works will also be undertaken.
Speaker, * The programme of land acquisition and servicing to support housing development already started at Katamanso, West Dunkonah, Amanfro and Ayi-Mensah in the Greater Accra Region will be stepped up.
In the 2000 fiscal year, government has planned for the acquisition of about 10,000 acres of land and the facilitation of the construction of 20,000 rental and 90,000 home ownership housing unit as well as the servicing of 5000 plots.
The enactment of a Code of Practice and Regulations to guide Estate Development in Ghana and the implementation of the National Housing Infrastructure Programme to accelerate housing delivery and safeguard home buyers’ interests will be pursued this year.
Work on the second phase of the programme to convert the Old State House Complex for use by Parliament will commence and hopefully be completed this year to give Honourable members the needed environment to enhance good democratic practice.
Speaker, * The domestic demand for electricity is forecast to continue to grow at an average rate of about 8% up till about 2007.
Government will therefore focus on measures to ensure that adequate supply sources are available to meet not only this domestic demand, but also the power requirements of neighbouring countries with whom we have contractual obligations.
The programme to extend electricity to all parts of Ghana will be pursued vigorously throughout the year.
To this end, extension work under the Greater Accra/Volta Region Electrification Project to connect an additional 28 communities in the Volta Region and 10 in the Greater Accra Region to the national grid will begin.
Financing in the amount 19 million Swedish Kroners has already been secured from the Swedish Government to execute the project.
Work on the European Union Electrification Project in Western Region will also commence during the year.
This will connect about 70 communities in the Western Region to the national grid.
Funds in the amount of 10 million ECUs have also been secured and the project is expected to be on tender during the first quarter of 2000.
Work will commence on the electrification of 107 Volta Lake Resettlement towns and villages during the year.
The project is estimated to cost 30 million US Dollars with 90% of the financing provided by the Chinese Government.