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Only an ignorant person will compare NDC government’s ‘okada’ policy to Free SHS – Stephen Amoah
A Deputy Minister for Trades and Industry, Stephen Amoah has downplayed any comparison between the governance of President Nana Akufo-Addo and former President John Dramani Mahama.
According to Stephen Amoah, the prevailing conditions under the two administrations are completely different and thus cannot be compared.
The Nhyiaeso MP insists the former president is still bereft of ideas and therefore cannot be re-elected president of the country.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM show, Mr Amoah rejected comments that Nana Akufo-Addo is the worst President Ghana has ever had.
“It’s unfortunate I heard him say that President Akufo-Addo will go down in the history of Ghana as the worst president. It’s very interesting. I thought he should have done a proper comparison of the prevailing conditions which was under former President John Mahama and what is prevailing under the current president because in any case, you can’t compare okada policy to Free SHS if it is not propaganda.”
He added that no unbiased Ghanaian can compare Mahama’s okada policy to President Akufo-Addo’s Free Senior High Policy.
“Any honest God-fearing person in Ghana who wants to do a proper comparison between the NPP and NDC at all times in terms of aggregate performance, but for propaganda, columnist inferior tactics, ignorance, unconscious incompetence, and display of ego tricks, will not compare NDC to NPP.”
In August 2020, conversations on legalising okada were rife after the then NDC Flagbearer John Mahama promised that his government would legalise okada if voted into power.
According to him, the Okada business had become a means of sustenance for young people who were unemployed.
His comments generated mixed reactions from Ghanaians with one section throwing their support behind it while another called for the implementation of a law banning the okada operation.
Senior Vice-President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil added his voice to the section of the public that was advocating for the legalisation of the commercial use of motorbikes.
He said if the government is not ready to “legalise and properly regulate this important transport and economically viable sub-sector, then they are not prepared to run a country like Ghana”.
But, the Motor Transport and Traffic Department, MTTD, said it will be challenging to regulate the commercial use of motorbikes.
Speaking to JoyNews, Head of Research and Programmes at the MTTD, Alexander Obeng said that there are other factors to consider including the training of police personnel to enforce the law, deployment and others
Source:Myjoyonline.com
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GEXIM deepens relations with US EXIM Bank
A management team of the Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) led by the Acting Chief Executive, Sylvester Mensah met with the leadership of the Export–Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM) on Wednesday April 23, 2025 in Washington DC, United States of America.
The Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM, Mr. James C. Cruse and Vice President, International Relations, Ms. Isabel Galdiz received the GEXIM delegation, which included Deputy CEO for Banking, Mr. Moses Klu Mensah and Head of International Cooperation, Mr. Jonathan Christopher Koney at the headquarters of US EXIM.
The meeting offered the GEXIM team the opportunity to share the strategic direction of the Bank in line with the resetting agenda of the President of the Republic, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama for the repositioning of the Ghanaian economy into an export-led one by providing the requisite investment to Ghanaian businesses.
Mr. James C. Cruse expressed US EXIM’s eagerness to deepen its existing relations with GEXIM and proposed the signing of a new Cooperative Framework Agreement following the expiration of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019 to utilize US EXIM’s medium term loan guarantees to procure machinery by GEXIM for qualified Ghanaian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Mr.Sylvester Mensah thanked the Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM for hosting the GEXIM delegation and reaffirmed the Ghanaian government’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment between Ghana and its global partners for economic transformation of Ghana with GEXIM playing a pivotal role.
The two teams will be meeting on the sidelines of the 2025 US EXIM Annual Conference on 29th and April 30, 2025 to explore possible areas of collaboration and matching Ghanaian businesses to American companies. The meeting ended with an exchange of gifts.
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Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation –Pres.Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has expressed concern over the misuse of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) for personal financial gain by individuals in leadership positions.
Speaking during a meeting with Chief Executives of specified entities under the State Interest and Governance Authority (SIGA) on Thursday, March 13, the President directly attributed the dire state of SOEs to their leadership, accusing chief executives, management teams, and governing boards of prioritising personal enrichment over organisational efficiency.
He pointed to bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures as factors draining public funds while SOEs continue to rely on government bailouts.
“Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation by appointees. The chief executives, management, and boards of these enterprises are responsible for this situation. Some SOEs have become perennial loss-makers, draining public funds with bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures while relying on government bailouts as if entitled to them. Many of these entities are at their lowest point in the entire history of the Fourth Republic,” he said.
President Mahama further noted that many SOEs have been plagued by inefficiencies, corruption, and mismanagement, leading to consistent financial losses. He cited the 2023 State Ownership Report by the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), which highlighted systemic inefficiencies and wasteful expenditures within these entities.
He therefore reaffirmed his commitment to reforming under-performing SOEs and ensuring they serve national interests.
He warned that loss-making SOEs will no longer be tolerated and will either be merged, privatised, or closed.
“I will assess you based on your performance. If you do not align with the pace of the reset agenda, you may be asked to step aside. If that adds to the horror movie, so be it,” he added.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
