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NDC Manifesto launch: Mahama pledges 120 days social contract with Ghanaians
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) the NDC has launched its 2024 manifesto promising jobs, accountability and transparency for Ghanaians.
As part of the manifesto, the former President and flagbearer, John Mahama also laid out his 120 days Social Contract with the people of Ghana.
According to the former President, John Dramani Mahama, Ghanaians are experiencing some economic hardships as a result of some bad policies of the current government.
For this reason, he said among other things that his government would do is to scrap nuisance taxes, improve education, implement a bold $10 billion infrastructure investment to cater for public housing projects.
MAHAMA’S FIRST 120 DAYS SOCIAL CONTRACT WITH THE PEOPLE OF GHANA.
1. Nominate within the first 14 days the complete list of Cabinet Ministers for parliamentary approval.
2. Constitute the LEANEST AND MOST EFFICIENT government under the fourth republic in my first 90 days in office.
3. Establish a robust CODE OF CONDUCT AND STANDARDS for all government officials.
4. Hold a National Economic Dialogue to discuss the true state of the economy and prepare a homegrown fiscal consolidation programme to guide the budget.
5. Within my first 90 days in office, scrap the following draconian taxes to alleviate hardships and ease the high cost of doing business: E-levy, COVID levy, 10% levy on bet winnings, and Emissions levy.
6. Within my first 90 days in office, review taxes and levies on vehicles and equipment imported into the country for industrial and agricultural purposes.
7. Commence drafting needed legal amendments and prepare for implementing the 24-Hour Economy Policy under the Office of the President.
8. Establish an Accelerated Export Development Council (AEDC) to promote exports as part of a broader strategy for economic transformation.
9. Convene a national consultative conference on EDUCATION to build consensus on needed improvements to the sector.
10. Implement the ‘No-Academic-Fee’ policy for all first-year students in public tertiary institutions—universities, colleges of education, nursing training institutions, etc.).
11. Introduce the following social interventions: Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities, the Ghana Medical Care Trust (MahamaCares) Fund.
12. Commence the distribution of free sanitary pads to female students in primary and secondary schools.
13. Institute inquiries and/or forensic audits into the following matters of public interest: The collapse of Indigenous Ghanaian banks and financial institutions at a supposed cost of GHS25 billion, illegal printing of money, the US$58 million National Cathedral scandal, illegal and inflated single- sourced contracts, COVID-19 expenditure scandal, PDS, Agyapa, SML, Ambulance spare parts deal, 13th African Games, Sky Train, Pwalugu Dam, Maths Sets, Galamsey Fraud, missing excavators and tricycles, Sputnik-V, BOST Scandal, and others…
14. Institute a government policy banning political appointees from purchasing state assets.
15. Allocate seed money for the establishment of the Women’s Development Bank.
16. Launch the following priority job creation programmes in the first budget: ‘Adwumawura’ Programme, ‘National Apprenticeship Programme’ and ‘One Million Coders Programme’.
17. Commence the review of the Customs (Amendment) Act 2020 to scrap the law banning the importation of salvaged vehicles to rescue the local automotive industry at Suame Magazine, Kokompe, Abossey Okai, among others.
18. Lay before parliament a new bill to streamline government scholarship administration, prohibit political appointees from accessing government scholarships, and eliminate political patronage, cronyism, nepotism, and corruption in awarding government scholarships.
19. Ban illegal and new mining activities in forest reserves. Roll out our ‘Tree for Life’ and Blue Water Initiative’ to heal and sustainably harness the environment by turning areas and water bodies degraded by illegal mining into economic and ecological recovery hubs.
20. Launch ‘The Black Star Experience’ initiative as Ghana’s flagship Culture, Arts and Tourism brand to transform Ghana into a preferred tourism destination.
21. Commence investigative processes to purge state security agencies of all militia and vigilante elements.
22. Re-open investigations into major unresolved criminal cases including the 2020 election killings, Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence, murder of Ahmed Hussein-Suale and Silas Wulochamey.
23. Initiate a probe into the man-made disaster caused by the VRA’s spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong Dams that displaced and destroyed the livelihoods of thousands of citizens in the Volta, Eastern, and Greater Accra.
24. Initiate immediate steps to compensate the flood victims, including those in the Oti, Bono East and Savanna regions.
25. Carry out a shakeup of all loss-making SOEs and realign them to break even and transition into profit-making.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
News
Galamsey: Akufo-Addo sets up 5-member ministerial committee
As part of efforts to fight the galamsey menace, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has set up a five-member ad hoc ministerial committee.
The committee in the coming days expected to engage stakeholders to assess the government’s efforts to deal with illegal mining activities, popularly known as galamsey.
Recently, the damage galamsey is causing to the environment has become a contentious issue in the country with many unions and associations demanding that President Akufo-Addo declare a state of emergency.
Others are also calling for the resignation of the minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor.
In a statement issued today, September 13, Information Minister Fatimatu Abubakar, announced the National Security Minister, Albert Kan-Dapaah, as the chairman of the committee to be assisted by four other ministers.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Below is the full list.
On the instruction of the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, an adhoc Ministerial committee has been set up to engage all stakeholders to assess the government’s efforts in dealing with illegal mining in Ghana.
The five-member committee is led by the
1. National Security Minister, Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaah
Other members of the committee are:
2. Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor
3. Minister for Defense, Hon. Dominic Nitiwul
4. Minister for Employment, Labour Relations and Pensions, Hon. Ignatius Baffour Awuah
5. Minister for information, Fatimatu Abubakar
News
President Akufo-Addo commissions $40 Million bitumen plant in Tema
On Thursday, September 12, 2024, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo commissioned the largest bitumen processing plant in Ghana, located in Tema, Accra.
The $40 million state-of-the-art facility is the result of a joint venture between Ghana’s GOIL PLC and Côte d’Ivoire’s Société Multinationale de Bitumes (SMB).
This landmark project is set to play a transformative role in the country’s road construction sector and industrial growth, reducing reliance on bitumen imports and positioning Ghana as a key player in the West African bitumen market.
In his address, President Akufo-Addo expressed immense pride in the achievement, calling it a testament to regional cooperation and collaboration. He was joined by His Excellency Robert Beugré Mambé, Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire, who represented President Alassane Ouattara, underscoring the significance of this partnership.
The President emphasized that the plant is symbolic of the strong ties between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, noting that the collaboration exemplifies the power of shared vision and resources within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The GOIL/SMB Bitumen Plant has a total storage capacity of 7,500 metric tons and will process base bitumen imported from Côte d’Ivoire into high-quality polymer modified bitumen (PMB) and bitumen emulsions.
These products are critical to the development of durable road infrastructure, offering enhanced performance under extreme weather conditions and heavy traffic loads. PMB, which is produced by adding polymers to standard bitumen, is known for its superior elasticity, strength, and resistance to cracking, making it ideal for use in high-stress areas such as highways and airport runways.
Bitumen emulsions, on the other hand, are used in road maintenance and construction, offering environmentally friendly solutions that reduce the need for high temperatures during application. Emulsions provide an economical and effective way of maintaining roads, sealing surfaces, and supporting infrastructure projects. The ability to produce these essential products domestically will not only improve the quality of roads in Ghana but also lower construction costs by reducing the dependence on imported bitumen.
President Akufo-Addo highlighted that the plant comes at a crucial time, as his government continues to make significant investments in expanding the country’s road network.
“Since 2017, we have embarked on the most extensive road construction program in Ghana’s history, with over 12,000 kilometers of roads built,” he said.
He added that “This facility will complement the government’s efforts, producing the necessary volumes of polymer modified bitumen and bitumen emulsions to meet the growing demands of our infrastructure sector.”
The commissioning of the GOIL/SMB Bitumen Plant also represents a significant step forward in fostering regional integration between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
President Akufo-Addo praised the joint venture as a model for future collaborations within ECOWAS, stressing that cooperation between national companies can drive industrialization and economic development across the region.
“This initiative demonstrates what we can achieve when we pool our resources, expertise, and resolve as nations,” the President remarked.
According to him, “It is a symbol of how cooperation between our two nations can serve as a catalyst for regional development.”
The facility is also expected to contribute to job creation and boost Ghana’s export potential.
By producing high-quality bitumen products domestically, Ghana will not only meet its local demand but also supply neighboring West African countries, generating foreign exchange earnings for the economy.
The President underscored the importance of ensuring that the plant operates at the highest standards, producing bituminous products that meet international specifications. This, he said, would position Ghana as a leader in the bitumen industry in the region.
President Akufo-Addo took the opportunity to reiterate his government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for industrial ventures like the GOIL/SMB Bitumen Plant.
He noted that the success of such projects is proof of the soundness of the government’s economic policies and the resilience of the Ghanaian economy, even in the face of global challenges.
He also urged the Minister for Roads and Highways, Honourable Francis Asenso-Boakye, to ensure that high-quality bitumen from the GOIL/SMB plant is used in major road projects across the country.
The President commended the leadership of GOIL PLC for their continued commitment to advancing Ghana’s petroleum and energy sector. He lauded the dedication of the contractors, Orsam, as well as the workers from GOIL and SMB, for their efforts in completing the project on schedule while maintaining rigorous safety standards.
In conclusion, President Akufo-Addo expressed optimism about the future of industrial partnerships between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
He emphasized that the commissioning of the bitumen plant is just the beginning, with numerous opportunities for collaboration and innovation on the horizon.
“This plant strengthens the foundation upon which we are building a future of self-reliance and regional integration,” the President said.
The President added, “Together, we will continue to forge partnerships that benefit our peoples and promote sustainable development.”
The GOIL/SMB Bitumen Plant is a clear example of how strategic partnerships and regional cooperation can drive industrialization and create economic opportunities, making Ghana a leader in road construction and infrastructure development in West Africa.
