ghananlpcommunity/ghana-gov-speeches-sentences huggingface dataset:
This will be done in the context of GIFMIS, HRMS and payroll reforms that are being implemented already; restructuring of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) and other Statutory Funds to reduce rigidities in the budget and aligning them to priority programmes; rationalization of public sector staff in MDAs — which elements include the ongoing payroll upgrade and installation of new HRMS programme for Office of Head of Civil Service (OHCS) and Public Services Commission (PSC).
The enhancement of these measures will include a broad public scctor reform such as an option for voluntary retirement plan as well as a review of MDAs organizational structure; v. negotiate public sector wage adjustments subject to budgetary constraints and within a medium term framework aimed at reducing the wage bill-to-tax revenue ratio progressively; vi.
refinancing of public debt to reduce the interest cost burden; vii.
continuation of the policy of regular adjustment of fuel and utility prices to keep expenditure on subsidy within budget constraints; viii.
~ deepen the implementation of GIFMIS through completion of the budget modules and roll-out to all MDAs and MMDAs to improve efficiency in - public expenditore management and provide.a.more effective way..of .
controlling commitment; ix.
undertaking a mote thorough privatization of the downstream of the electricity distribution systems at ECG and NEDCO, by using private sector in the collection of revenues, under performance-based contracts; and x. Debt management measures such as: a. managing the debt sustainability limits; refinancing and extending the tenure of loans and bonds for financing the capital budget; b. adopting recovery schemes such as escrows and on-lending for commercially viable projects; c. financing of capital budget from specific long-term domestic and foreign loans and bonds and not relying on short-term instruments.
The afore mentioned goal will complement the lengthening of the maturity profile of domestic debt and financing the capital component of the budget through the issuance of longer dated bonds; and d. channel grants and concessional borrowing with heavy grant elements to social investments while using the proposed GIF to leverage funding from the financial merkets and working with the private sector to boost infrastructure through the issuance of guarantees, and on-lending to setf-financing SOEs.
In addition, the GRA’s medium-to-long term strategic plan is being revised at the moment to include a goal of placing the nation’s revenue mobilization effort within the bands for lower Middle Income countties.
It is in this context that the House approved two critical measures as part of the 2014 Budget: i. Sovereign Bond issue: we have obtained approval from Public Procurement Authority (PPA) to appoint the advisors and we will be embarking on a non- deal road show this month.
~ Ghana Infrastructure Fund (GIF): Mr.
31, In the medium term, the objective of monetary policy will remain price stability.
In this regard, monetary policy will aim at delivering an inflation target of 9.5 percent within a band of 42 percent and gross international reserves which will cover not less than 4 months of imports of goods and services by 2016.
It is 10 expected that improved non-traditional exports and oil production as well as possible decline in the oil import bill with the onset of gas production should create conditions for gradual recovery of output and foreign exchange reserves.
Moreover the expected ramped-up Jubilee crude oil production in 2014 and 2015, the coming on stream of the Twenenboa-Enyenra-Ntomme (TEN), as well as the Sankofa-Gye Nyame fields in the second half of 2016 should boost the medium- term prospects of increasing output and shoring up the foreign exchange reserves.
CONCLUSION 32 Mr.
Speaker, the economy is beginning to adjust to the fiscal and monetary measures with net positive change in nominal budget numbers as well as a reduced pace of depreciation of the cedis-although risks relating to-continuing commodity price volatility and tightening global financial conditions stiil remain.
34, Mr.
Speaker we wish to re-iterate the comprehensiveness of our home- grown fiscal consolidation measures.
35, Mr.
STATEMENT MADE BY HON.
FRANK ANNOH-DOMPREH MP FOR NSAWAM ADOAGYIRI AND CHAIRMAN FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, ON A CALL TO THE AU AND THE UN TO INSTITUTE ANNUAL PEACEKEEPING LECTURES IN HONOR OF KOFI ANNAN .
Kofi Annan has and will always be a great beacon of hope to Ghana and Afiica as a whole.
His activism was a driving force in implementing and developing the concept of Responsibility to Protect (R2P), an international principle that carefully incorporates contemporary ideologies necessitated by the new age of international relations.
Recognising the flaw of the Westphalian notion that state sovereignty should be an absolute conception, Kofi Annan was able to steer the UN towards a more suitable approach, where the ability of a state to protect the lives of its people became a determinant of its sovereignty, for which abligation to protect would either remain with the state or will be ceded to the international system.
In 2005 at the General Assembly, the R2P was unanimousty endotsed by the UN and it has been useful in Cote d’Ivoire, South Sudan, Yemen and Syria, although the afiermath of NATO intervention in Libya stands as an exception.
Mr Speaker, Kofi Annan who has left an indelible impression in the history of peace building, is a man we cannot cease to celebrate, particularly because we expegierice the benefits of his contributions frequently.
Indeed, though a significant -part of his achievements occurred outside the physical boundaries of our dear nation Ghana, this country has not been left behind in enjoying the perks associated with peace and stability that Kofi Annan held so dear.
Kofi Annan was a diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1997 to December 2006. i 3.
Speaker, I find it necessary to clarify the motive behind this recognition given to Koft Annan partly because we do not want to be biased as Ghanaians in recounting the events in his lifetime, but more so because we are very certain of the clements of his character that we wish to instil in the generations afier him, to give hope to all who aspire to positively impact society in the manner that he did, and do it even better.
Throughout the past and present Kofi Annan has been a great torch bearer of Ghana who amplified Ghana’s act of Peaccbuilding and conflict resolution in before, during and after his position as a UN Secretary General.
Mr Speaker, I also find that one of the thematic principles which guided his operation especially during his tenure as UN Secretary General, was drawn from an old saying that reads “you cannot direct the winds but you can divect the sails...” and he quoted this at a dialogue held at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in 2012, Adopting this principle, Kofi Annan did not give room for the development of an impasse in the strive for world peace, and he encouraged others to adopt same.
Mr Speaker, Ghana has for many decades been actively involved in global issues since independence our commitment and contributions to international institutions speaks to this assertion.
In the same vein, Ghana’s leading role in the promotion of pan Afticanism since the time of Kwame Nkrumah has placed spotlight on the country in international affairs, It cannot be termed as a surprise that Kofi Annan was also a strong advocate for such endeavours.
Kofi Annan was a noble man who believed in Conflict resolution, peacebuilding and interventions as a means to curb global crisis this was a card Kwame Nkrumah used to help amass support from African States.
This is to say that development peace and stability should not be the selfish interest of a state but as such as one to which all states should collectively participate to enjoy perpetual peace.
For many who followed closely the developments of the United Nation in Peaccbuilding, coupled with the leadership of Kofi Annan, there is agreement that those achievements did not come easily.
This gives credence to the kind of acclamation attributed to the UN and Kofi Annan, justifying the award of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001.
In his memoir, Kofi Annan reflected on his roles at the UN on the Rwandan genocide in 1944 though he was not Secretary General at the time, one of the significant events that dened the UN’s peacekeeping reputation.
Kofi Annan reported on how he lobbied about 100 governments - and made personal calls to others - to assist with the passage of the Security Council Resolution (918) where page 2 of the resolution sought to enable the UN dispatch about 5,500 troops to the country.
Subsequently, the 1999 independent investigation into what had happened categorically concluded that the UN had failed to prevent, and stop, the genocide in Rwanda and as Secretary-General duting the investigation, Kofi Annan most importantly accepted responsibility for the tutn of events and poised himself to ensure the prevention of such a dreadful occursence.
He sought to do this by reforming the UN to be mandated and equipped for the kind of forceful action needed to prevent a genocide.
In his words, he said “J reaised after the genocide that there was more that I could and should have done to sound the alarm and rally support.
This painful memory, along with that of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has influenced much of my thinking, and many of my actions, as secretary~general”.
His support and validation of Responsibility to Protect (R2P) was a key act which one could say Kofi Annan had his root at heart.
R2P was an interventionist protocol out of which a clarion call for peace and conflict resolution is made to help protect war and conflict prone regions and state chicfly to protect the people and the state before they went into total destruction and turmoil.
Speaker, Kofi Annan did not only advocate for peace in the times of conflict but supported and spearheaded many humanitarian initiatives including the establishment of two intergovernmental bodies; the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) and the Human Rights Council of the United Nations in 2005.
The PBC was jointly established by the General Assembly and the Security Council in 2005 as a new intergovernmenial advisory body of the United Nations to support peace efforts in countries emerging from conflict and to marshal resources from combined contributions enabling states to invest in the building of each other.
Nonetheless, the events in international security studies places a timestamp on the development of the concept “human security” that was also increasingty becoming popular in global governance in the 1990s.
This encouraged Kofi Annan to formulate the basis for his advocacy as a humanitarian through combining human rights, the rule of law, and human security as necessary components of global development by the time he was general secretary of the international organisation—the UN.
These dynamics are relevant in shaping the ideologies of students the broader spectrum of international actors here in Ghana and they ought to be promoted.
Speaker, this call to institute a such a televant activity is supported by the far reaching legacy of Kofi Annan, and to build the case for such a proposal, 1 wish to throw light on the material legacy attributed to him, especially during his service as Secretary General of the UN.
Kofi Annan submitted the first cver comprehensive repost by a Secretary General on the topic Prevention of Armed Conflict in 2001, geared towards addressing the root causes of conflicts and proactively positioning the UN for prevention rather than reaction.
Kofi Annan was also very instrumental in the adoption of the UN Counter-Terrorism Strategy (A/RES/60/288) in 2006 in the wake of the September 2001 terrorist attack in the United States.
In Ghana, he established a model 1.\« 12.
14. peace tertiary school and ICT centre to build the capacity of people which is also expected to enhance their contributory role in world peace.
Mr Speaker, the rationale for the memorial lectures border on the need to immortalise the peaceful and diplomatic skills of Kofi Annan while at the same time encouraging peaceful coexistence in international relations among nations.
Again, given the rich content of the activities in conflict resolution engincered by Kofi Annan, the lectures will package those cxperiences to be assimilated by younger diplomats and international actors in today’s global politics.
Furthermore, the identification of some distinet elements which make up the peace model of Kofi Annan are being proposed to be incorporated into the annual lectures and they are fashioned in Kofi Annan’s inherent traits to; » See a possibility where one may not be apparent; » Directly involve oneself in peace negotiations to mediate and bring about amicable compromises whiles taking responsibility for one’s own role in working towards world peace aud stability.
Mr Speaker, quite similarly, Peace Talks, an initiative that showcases the inspirational stories of people who are making extraordinary contributions to peace and co-founded by the United Nations Office at Geneva, The Geneva Peacebuilding Platform, and Inter- peace, has progressed the work envisioned by Kofi Annan since its commencement in 2013.
Though this specifically expands the dialogue on peace building and conflict resolution, an annual memorial lecture has the potential to be fashioned info the academic curricular of students for which credits will be obtained to further encourage the utility of Kofi Annan’s peace model.
Finally, Mr Speaker, this endeavour will follow a weil-defined organisational plan with relevant local actors and specified target audiences in academia, corporate institutions, public servants and government officials.
It will include a host of activities that ensure the impartation of knowledge and the birth and promotion of individual ideas to support the peace model that will live on in the heart of the African continent from which it originated in Kofi Annan.
I therefore make this call to all from this honourable House, to take steps to institute memorial lecturcs on the peace model of Kofi Annan.
1 Iy .
In this modern era, the dynamics of interstate and intrastate conflicts have greatly evolved into the cyberspace and at no point can we sit back and fold arms on conflict prevention.
We all have a role fo play in peaccbuilding and we must teach ourselves and our generations the principles to foltow.
Many of which are found in the study of Kofi Annan’s peace model.
1 am grateful for the opportunity given Rt.
Hon, Speaker.
A COMMEMORATIVE STATEMENT ON FOUNDERS’ DAY BY HON.
KINGSLEY NYARKO, MP, KWADASO Our Founders, our Foundation and Future Rt.
Hon Speaker; On 4" August 1947, the first political party—United Gold Coast Convention was formed at Saltpond in Cape Coast.
This political party was formed by patriots and nationalists, who by dint of hard work, sacrifice, dedicated service and commitment to the country, led the struggle that culminated in our independence on 6 March, 1957, These were individuals who felt they owed the country, and not the reverse, and sought fo use every legitimate means to deliver the country and her people from oppression, despondency and servitude.
Theirs was a fight, not only for the present, but most importantly, for the future.
Speaker, these selfless leaders had envisioned a future of hope, harmony and happiness; and to realize that, they felt the need to harness the talents, skills and abilities of the people to benefit both the present and future generations.
Speaker, these leaders were our founders, foundation and future.
Their struggles, toils and determination served as the foundation for the birth of the country on March 6, 1957, and the virtues they espoused— Page 1of 9 selflessness, sacrifice, patriotism were supposed to oil the foundation for a better future.
Hon Speaker, Nyarko (2017) observed that the independence of Ghana was not realized on a silver platter; as a matter of fact, it took years of struggle, pain, disappointment, betrayal, and even deaths before we were able to ga}n freedom from our colonial overlords—the British.
The patriots who sacrificed their energy, resources, and lives deserve commendation, and must be celebrated.
Speaker, this statement is not being made to show the superiority of one individual over the other; neither is it being made to whittle down the contributions of any person towards our freedom and the development of our motherland.
Speaker, this statement is being made on this memorable day to enable us to know our past heroes and how they contributed to our present state of development, and what we have to do differently to ensurc a prosperous future.
Ghana, our motherland, is a great land with beautiful people and extraordinary talents; it is a land of great opportunities, possibilitics and resources, With our distinct diversities expressed in our ethnicities and cultures, we have the opportunity to Page2 of 9 overcome the impediments that have, over the years, derailed our efforts of enduring progress.
Speaker, I am referring to poverty, diseases, hatred, selfishness, greed, corruption and other social vices.
These are the obstructions that threaten our survival, and must be dealt with in unison to guarantee our socio- economic turnaround.
Speaker, our divisions are obvious, our differences are conspicuous, but what we need to acknowledge is that differences and diversities are needed for us to grow, to become better, and overcome our environment.
Speaker, according to Nyarko (2017), during the era of colonial rule, our forefathers had differences, yet, they came together to pursue a collective and worthy goal—the deliverance from colonial domination.
Some had the vision, others pursued it, and others made it a possibility.
We need to commend them all; they all deserve to be eked in gold in the annals of our history.
Speaker, the vision is not fully attained; we have to fully commit ourselves to it and ensure its achievement.
As our first president once said, “our independence is meaningless until it is linked up with the total liberation of Africa.”
This is the vision we have to accomplish, but in accomplishing it, we must understand that we cannot do so when divided; Page3 of 9 we cannot realize it when we allow excessive partisanship to take over our consciences and our obligation to produce a better and fulfilling future for the present generation and posterity.
Speaker, in every society, community or country, “there were people who stood in the gap between the present and the future; these are individuals who wanted to leave an enduring legacy for posterity.
These are people who came to the conclusion that they have to live for the future; never valued their existence until it was linked to the 1iberati§n of their people.
We don’t only live to cat and die, but to impact our world and leave a legacy for our gencration and subsequent ones.
Because the meaningfulness of our existence lies in the impact we make on society, we need to consciously reward patriotism and acts that encourage others to sacrifice their lives for the benefit of society” (Nyarko, 2017).
That is why we need to embrace the Founders’ Day and make it part of our collective existence.
Speaker, sixty years before independence, in 1847, a pressure group-— Aborigines Rights Protection Society (ARPS) was formed with the objective of safeguarding the property of the indigenes.
In 1911, when the colonial administration wanted to introduce the Forest Ordinance, they © Pagedof9 fought it until it was later passed in 1926.
It was this same Society that stood behind the Big Six when they were arrested and detained.
The leadership of the ARPS contributed to our attainment of independence.
Speaker, we cannot overlook the critical role played by J. E. Casely Hayford, who formed the West African Conference in 1917, which later became the West African Congress in 1920.
This was the first pressure group that clearly demanded self-determination from the colonial administration.
Their aim was to invite the West African colonies under the British to demand self-determination and no faxation without representation.
Three of their most crucial demands were self-government which should be implemented in order to enable peoples of African descent to be part of the governance of their own country, the granting of elective franchise and the abolishing of the system of nomination to the tegislative Council because of its undemocratic nature (Ofosu-Appiah, 1974).
Speaker, upon his return home in 1927 after obtaining his doctorate degree, J. B. Danquah, together with journalists such as Nnamdi Azikiwe, K. A. B. Jones Quartey, provided the enabling political atmosphere that raised national consciousness and awareness towards emancipation.
Through their platforms, the indigenes were made aware of issues in the Page 5019 country, their despondency, and neglect to second-class citizens on the land of their birth.
It must be stated unequivocally that it was through the toil and sacrifices of these nationalists that awakened the consciousness of the people to demand that a delegation of chiefs and the people be sent to protest at the colonial office in London over the Criminal Code (Amendment) Ordinance, popularly called the Sedition Bill, and the Water Works Ordinance of 1934.
Speaker, Dr.
J. B. Danquah was the leader of the delegation as the secretary, and demanded, in addition to the two demands indicated above, an increase in the number of Africans on the Legislative Council, the election of the provincial council members for the Eastern Province by the Whole Provincial Council, and non-chiefs becoming provincial members (Ofosu-Appiah, 1974).
Speaker, in the 1940s, there was an unquenchable demand for freedom as the intelligentsia gave their all and made sure that the people participated in determining their own destiny.
As a result, when upon a meeting between J. B. Danquah and Mr.
George Alfred Grant in Sekondi, the idea to establish a political party was non-negotiable.
Mr, Grant was not happy about the myriad of socio-economic issues at the time and said to Dr, Dangquah, “Danquah, the country is slipping down the hill, and what are you doing about it?”
J. B. Danqual replied, “1 am in your hands, Sir.”
Page 6 of 9 Speaker, this interaction paved the way for a meeting among Dr, Danquah, Mr.
F. Awoonor-Williams, Mr.
R. S. Blay, and Mr.
It was at this meeting that led to the eventual formation of the UGCC in Saltpond, on 4™ August, 1947.
Speaker, this day, in no doubt, was the defining moment towards the attainment of independence in the Gold Coast.
At the inauguration, Mr.
Grant was elected the chairman for the occasion, and Dr.
J. B. Danquah delivered the inaugural address.
The address was so potent and touching to the extent that it was able to create a national awareness, and craving for freedom.
After the speech, which was greeted with deafening applause, Mrs.
J. B. Eyeson mounted the podium and said, “Dr.
Danquah, we had in the past given enthusiastic support to the cause of the Church.
Today it is the cause of the nation.
Women of the country are behind you.”
(Ofosu-Appiah, 1974, p.52, 53).
Speaker, it must also be stated without equivocation, that the advent of the UGCC provided the fertile ground for our freedom.
In fact, it was the forerunner to our independence.
Being the first political party in the country, the pure intentions and activities of the leadership contributed in making the attainment of independence possible.
Speaker, during this period, Page 7 of 9 Kwame Nkrumah was not in the country; but was recommended by M. Arko-Adjei to the executive committee of the UGCC.
He was later invited and became the secretary of the convention.
Speaker, the leadership of the UGCC, as a result of their passion for freedom, paid Kwame Nkrumah’s travelling expenses, and he arrived in the country on 10" December, 1947.
It must also be noted that, among the leadership of the convention, he was the only person who received monthly salary.