NDC Set For One Touch Victory � As Mahama Launches �Changing Lives Transforming Ghana Manifesto
The governing NDC is set be roll out an all out campaign as soon as the President, John Dramani Mahama returns home from the US where he is attending the 71st General Assembly of the United Nations.
After the successful formal launch of the party’s 2016 Manifesto, all constituency, regional and other campaign machineries including the cadres have been charged to hit the ground running and ignore diversionary tactics by the main opposition party, NPP.
Key influential party functionaries have been tasked to ensure all outstanding differences especially between few DCEs and their MP aspirants are resolved for an all hands on deck approach. The regional campaign teams have been warned against complacency and government appointees tasked to adopt areas in their respective regions to support.
The party through some national executives have already served notice they are closely monitoring every effort on the ground to ensure those who can afford but fail to deliver are exposed.
So far the NDC is the only party which has demonstrated readiness for the elections. Last Saturday, the party assured the nation of President Mahama’s commitment to remain a selfless leader, who will ensure Ghana’s unity and accelerated development.
Top NDC officials who addressed the mammoth rally at the Sunyani Coronation Park took turns to explain major challenges the Mahama Administration was confronted with, bold and painful decisions taken, the impact of the home grown policies and why President John Mahama must be retained.
The NDC which is confident of winning at least 57 percent of votes has pinned the 2016 manifesto on its massive investments across all sectors and policy initiatives that are yielding positive results.
With the power crisis over, a stabilized currency, reducing budget deficit and expected reduction in inflation, the NDC manifesto is targeting job creation, a green revolution aimed at multiplying productivity in the agriculture sector which will eventually make Ghana a net exporter of rice, maize as well as become self sufficient in poultry, sugar and tomato production.
The main driver of industry will be the Ghana Exim Bank and the Ghana Infrastructural Investment Fund.
Key projects in the roads and transport sectors captured in the manifesto include the;
• Dualisation of all major highways. The first three are Accra to Kumasi; Accra to Takoradi; and Aflao to Accra.
• Complete the Kasoa Interchange
• Build a new interchange at the Obetsebi circle area. Intelligent traffic systems to be introduced to oversee traffic conditions and manage vehicular movements in major cities remotely.
• Black Star Shipping Line shall be re-established as a subsidiary of GPHA.
• Feasibility studies for a deep-sea port at Keta to be completed and if positive project shall commence.
• Phase two expansion of the Kumasi and Tamale International Airports
• New airstrips in Bolgatanga and Cape Coast
• Tema - Akosombo rail line to be completed, extension of rail lines from Kojokrom to Sekondi-Takoradi, Awaso and Kumasi, Northern Railway Line to Burkina Faso shall commence
• Boankra inland port to be completed and adorned with a freight rail system.
• New bus fleets for STC and expansion of Metro Mass and BRT.
The second Term of the Mahama Administration which also focused on green revolution is intended to make the agric sector attractive to investors and the youth.
Key among policy plans are;
• Investments in cocoa sector to continue, new plantation model under public private partnership – to be introduced
• Farmers service centres will be established all over the country, storage facilities to be built to deal with post harvest losses
• An agro-credit scheme to be established to serve all farmers
• New plantation scheme by COCOBOD to attract youth sharecroppers.
• Two more shea butter factories in the North, new Cashew Board for Ghana, to be headquartered in Brong Ahafo region.
• Cotton production shall reach 100,000 metric tons per year, free cocoa, coffee seedlings programme shall be sustained
• Modern cold stores at landing beaches
A Mahama-led-NDC government, after laying a solid foundation through massive investments in the power and roads sector has opened the country for industrialization.
Besides the Komenda Sugar Factory, the revived GIHOC distilleries, the Shea Nut factory and the Kumasi Shoe factory, more factories are to be established. Priority will also be given to defunct ‘Kwame Nkrumah Factories which prove viable today.
The manifesto captures the following through the capitalization of the Ghana Industrialization Fund and the Ghana Exim Bank.
• A fertiliser plant in Shama is planned, and shall be fed with gas from the ENI fields.
• A ceramic factory is planned for Buipe
• The Tema Oil Refinery shall be expanded to be able to produce 160,000 refined fuel products a day. This implies a crude capacity in excess of 200,000 barrels, more than 4 times current capacity
• A Jewellery village and gold market shall be established at Tepa in partnership with KNUST
• An alumina plant shall be set up in Ghana
• Capital injection into Juapong Textiles
• Tema Shipyard and Dry dock recently handed over to the GPHA shall be refurbished into a foremost shipbuilding and repair facility within the sub region
• Implement feasibility studies of all the Kwame Nkrumah era factories. Aboso Glass Factory to be revived.
• Database of all Ghanaian youth and their skillsets
• Employers to receive incentives to recruit from the database in regional ‘National Employment Centers’.
In the Energy Sector, the followed have been earmarked for the next four years.
• Additional 2000 megawatts of power (80% of total current output) to be added to the grid through investments in thermal, solar, wind and other sources
• Production at ENI Sankofa fields to boost Ghana’s energy/power sector. Other planned investments to be sustained for energy security and export to neighbouring countries
• Ghana to enter another phase of petro chemical industry with value addition to by-products ie fertilizer, caustic salt, chlorine salt etc
The Mahama Administration’s first four years has already gone down in history for the massive investments in the education sector.
The 2016 manifesto however has very laudable initiatives to bridge the huge gap in access and quality training to meet the changing demands in jobs as the economy expands.
The 80 page document intends to amend the GETFUND Act to extend support to private tertiary institutions engaged in science and engineering training.
NDC also plans to;
• All 200 Community Day SHS will be completed
• 30 percent of new Community SHS to focus on technical training, to be complimented with Deputy Minister responsible for technical and vocational education
• 12 new schools to train technical and vocational institute instructors, with first facility at Agona Swedru
• Establish two specialised Oil & Gas skills training institutes.
• Three new colleges of education to ensure sustainability of quota-free access.
• All schools under trees to be cleared.
In the health sector, the National Health Insurance Scheme, which has seen a tremendous increase in subscription with OPD cases up from 9.34million in 2008 to over 29million in 2014 in spite of financial difficulties will now receive a major boost through additional funding from petroleum revenues. This will be done through diversification of sources of funding for the NHIS by allocating an approved percentage of the ABFA from our Petroleum Revenue.
The 2016 NDC Manifesto is also given priority to Mental Health Care after government committed itself to the passage of the Mental Health Act.
In the document, the Accra Psychiatry Hospital will be relocated to Pantang and converted into a world-class mental health facility. Two more advanced psychiatric hospitals, one in Ashanti the other in the Northern Region while the Mental Health Act 2012 will be strictly implemented with its resourcing implications.
The NDC shall within the next four years also;
• Increase the number of trained midwives at the current, accelerated, rate.
• Complete second military hospital in Kumasi.
• Establish a maritime tertiary hospital facility.
• Complete the Wa teaching hospital in 2017, Upgrade the Takoradi hospital, build new district hospitals including one each at Salaga and Konongo-Odumase
• Establish both a hospital and polyclinic in Adenta
• Build 100 more polyclinics (at least 5 per region), including in Bamboi.
The main manifesto, an 80-page document captured detailed report on achievements in all sectors of the economy and governance in general. It has a well spelt out policy framework that hopes to create the enabling environment for businesses to grow.
These among others include monitoring and review of the pattern of Ghana’s international trade and advise on matters affecting trade and industry; Study, identify and recommend tariff levels for specific sectors of the economy with due regard to the effective rate of protection without the blanket removal of duties on all imports; Accelerate the implementation of the Public Financial Management Reforms, including the Integrated Financial Management Information Systems (GIFMIS) and Programme-Based Budgeting (PBB); Rationalise the tax system to reduce the burden on the few and Simplify the tax system.
An elated President John Mahama told the teeming NDC supporters who defied the heavy downpour he is committed to keep Ghana united and peaceful. He also expressed optimism of a one touch victory come December 7.
Earlier, Minister for Communications, Dr Omane Boamah, Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Haruna Idirusu, General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketiah among others took turns to address the rally.
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