President John Dramani Mahama is presenting the highlights of the 2016 manifesto of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).

He said his near four years in office has been filled with telling stories of Ghanaians who are doing more to improve the lot of the country.

He is expected to first delve into 2012 promises government has achieved within the near four years in office as a President. It will highlight Projects that were undertaken and the ones government was unable to deliver.

Mr Mahama will then be expected to put a strong a case to Ghanaians asking for a second term in the upcoming election.

He disclosed on Sunday at the Eid-il-Adha celebration at the Black Star Square that Ghana is ready for an economic take-off in 2017.

He was optimistic the various sectors of the nation's economy has been prepared in readiness for the take-off. Ghana will become the hub of economic development in West Africa when this is done, he said.

The State Banquet Hall which is the venue for the manifesto highlight is filled with party and government functionaries. The

- President entered the auditorium with the First Lady, Lordina Mahama and they all rise to the National Anthem.

- Veep is about to introduce the President to get the programme on the way. 

The Vice President has described President John Mahama as Ghana’s foremost agent of “change and transformation.”

Kwesi Amissah Arthur says under President Mahama’s leadership Ghana has seen more unparallel developments in all facets of the country.

Speaking at a ceremony to highlight the manifesto of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Arthur said lives have been transformed and infrastructure expanded under the near four years of Mr Mahama.

He said developing Ghana has been their aim because of the NDC’s “social democratic beliefs” which demands social equity in the access to social amenities.

Mr Arthur said he can understand why their opponents are bent on denigrating their achievements in the face of the truth.

“On 15 December 2015 we launch the Accounting to the People document and our opponents seek to belittle our achievements,” he said.

Their opponents, he said have argued the NDC has benefited from “more resources using nominal figures” and they have also tried to say that the infrastructural projects have been inflated but government remains focus.

“Their behaviour is similar to their political tricks since 1992 when they accused the NDC government then,” he said.

Mr Amissah-Arthur said “I can appreciate the dilemma of the opposition” because they cannot stand achievements of government.

Announcing the titled of NDC’s 2016 manifesto, Mr Amissah-Arthur said the word change should not be seen as a reserve of the opposition arguing they have believed in the word more than any party in the country.

- “Our manifesto this year is titled Changing Lives, Transforming Ghana,” he said to a cheering crowd.

- He said it is based on their social democratic believes in developing Ghana's human resource

- It is over 100 pages which President Mahama says he would read the foreword but the details would come in Sunyani when it is launched on Sunday. 

- He said the manifesto will focus on four thematic area namely:

1. Putting people first; social services and human resources

2. Strong and resilient economy for job creation for the people

3. Expanding social and economic structures; housing et al

4. Transparent and accountable governance 

 

Education

- Putting people first basic education increased 26 percent in the number of educational institution they will work to increase the numbers 

- Enrollment increased to 9 million in 2016 academic year due to the educational facilities put in place

- A lot of schools under trees have been removed and they have structures now

- Textbooks were distributed to students so it was not only teachers who have them like it used to be

- School feeding increased and they will work to improve in from 2017

- 125 people enrolled in schools which are almost 97% enrollment; the 3% are shepherd boys et al and government has fixed school time which is said to be convenient for them so they can also go to school

- Government has achieved gender parity in basic schools is now at a ratio of 1:1 so both boys and girls have equal access to education

- 123 out of the planned 200 planned Community Day Senior High School are on course 

- Building new SHS so more children can get access to education

- Government will be investing $100 million in Technical and vocational training institutions 

-  30% of the Community Day SHS will be Technical Schools

- There would be a Minister in charge of vocational training to increase supervision to get the needed results

- Vocational training would be under Ministry of Education from 2017

- The Polytechnic Universities will also be learning science related courses  

- The Polytechnic turned into universities would be well rebranded so it is not seen as a dumping ground

 

Economic

- Rejuvenation of major cities with Tema being one of the leading cities to get its industrial hub developed

- Government hopes to develop of Parks and amusement places 

Tourism 

- Government would implement the 15-year tourism development plan

- Provident Fund to be set up for aging artistes to receive monthly stipend so they don't live in poverty

- Efua Sutherland to be redesigned and upgraded to be like the Rattray Park in Kumasi

- A film village to be developed in partnership with the private sector

- New interchange at Obetsibi Lamptey in Osu to allow the Circle traffic to flow once it is finished and opened to traffic

- Intelligent traffic system to direct traffic would also be introduced

- Apprenticeship with master craftsmen to train the youth for the Magazine in Kumasi, Tamale, Takoradi

 

Agric

- Government would ensure Agriculture would be highly mechanised to entice the youth, nothing like hoe and cutlass farming

- Set up storage facilities to cut down post harvest losses

- Farmers Service Centers to give seedlings to farmers and they will also buy farm produce harvested

- The Centers will provide loans for farmers as well to help them in their farming

- The Ghana Cocoa Board will go for plantations and it will be shared among the youth to take care of with support from the Board. Produce from the farmers would be bought by the Board

- A cashew Board would be set up in Brong Ahafo which is where cashew cultivation is done on a large scale

- Government is also looking at putting in mechanisms to increase cotton production

- Government would reintroduce coffee production, free seedling being nursed to be given to farmers to encourage them to farm coffee

 

Industry

- Government would be working toward making Ghana become the main petroleum hub of West Africa

- Government would also be working on revitalize VALCO

- Agreement with strategic investor to release associated gas for fertiliser production with land already secured in Shama 

- Private factory setting up gold mines to process gold finds

- Steel mills, ceramic and tiles plus other heavy industry development

- Shipyard to be developed for Ghana to be the foremost Shipyard in the gulf of Guinea

- Recategorising small scale mining and restructuring artisanal miners to a new category of medium scale and create something different for them

- There would be a maximum repatriation of gold cash sold

- A jewelry production village would be set up at Tepa

 

Water

- Damango cannot have water because of the water table and Mahama said it is unfortunate to be playing politics with it won't help 

- Yendi, Damango, Saboba et al will have the Water Support project

- Government would ensure that from 2017 every school and hospital must have access to clean drinking water across the country

 

Energy 

- Ghana would be entering into the era of energy security

- Sankofa field to add to gas development of 300 million standard cubic feet of gas which can produce 2000 Megawatts more power than Ghana needs for power generation

- Roof top solar panel project will be continued so small scale workers like barbers, salons use it so they can stay off ECG 

- Government has entered into an agreement for biomass electricity generation plant in partnership with a Norwegian company

 

Road

- Ghana to have the best road network in West Africa

- Government will see to the dualisation of all major highway starting with Accra-Kumasi and filling the gaps with those parts that are not dual. The same will be done to the Accra-Cape Coast-Takoradi road

- The Accra-Aflao will also turned into a dual carriage road 

- Government has alrady cut the sod for a bridge to be constructed over the Accra-Tema motorway from Flower Pot on the Spintex road to East Legon 

- Another bridge would be constructed from Klagoon to Ashiaman

- Construction of Accra-Kumasi and Tamale outer ring roads

 

Shipping
- Bringing back the Black Star Line in conjuction with GHAPOHA

- Deep sea project construction would also be done at Keta in the Volta Region

 

Aviation

- Government would see to the extension of the Kumasi runway so Boeing can land there

- The Wa Airstrip iwould be constructed into a modern day aerodrome for commercial purposes

- There would also be an Aerodrome for Cape Coast for tourism

 

Railway

- Government would see to the construction of Sekondi-Takoradi to Kumasi railway system

- There would also be inland rail port to be constructed at Boankrah for traveling and transportation of goods via Tema 

- Government would also commence work on the Tema to Akosombo railway line

- Inland Rail Port to be constructed at Buipe

- Government has completed feasibility studies and if it is found to be viable a rail line would be constructed from the northern line to Burkina Faso

- Build the Amasaman-Accra by train and Ejisu-Kumasi by train

-Commission the Bus Rapid Transit soon. If successful in Accra it will be extended to other cities of Ho, Tamale, Cape Coast etc

 

ICT

- Construct the Ghana Marituis ICT Park

- Provide every Ghanaian with a National ID Card

- There would also be an Intergrted Registration System

- Complete the house numbering and house addressing system which is to be digitalised to direct cars etc

 

- Green Ghana project to plant tress along the road to beautify the city

- All public boarding schools would be made to use biofil technology 

 

Governance 

- Constitutional review recommendation to pay Assemblymen

- MMDA will be elected also as part of Constitutional review recommendation

- Set up a commission of inquiries to see to possibility of adding other regions from 10-15 for a better administrative management.