The Communication Director at the Office of the President, Koku Anyidoho, has stated that President J.E.A. Mills “has invested heavily in cleaning up the image of the country” and is ready to take off with infrastructural development. Mr. Anyidoho who was speaking on Asempa FM’s current affairs programme Ekosii Sen, said President Mills has spent the past two years cleaning up the image of the country and ridding the country of drug barons and cartels. He said even though the President is keen to attract investment into the country, he is more interested in building a country with integrity and under his administration, Ghana continues to attract “clean and good money” due to the extensive fight against drugs. Mr. Anyidoho who was speaking ahead of President Mills’ planned meeting with senior journalists and media practitioners on Friday, also touched on the recent petroleum price hikes which have been met with some agitations from businesses and political organizations. He explained that prior to the 2008 elections, then candidate Mills promised to reduce petroleum prices based on the prevailing circumstances at the time. He said the ruling government at the time claimed it could not do anything about the prices but quickly reduced same after the first round of elections. He added that the reduction made at the time was very significant and therefore did not need any further downward adjustments. Mr. Anyidoho further stated that President is heartbroken when prices of crude go up, explaining that if there was another way to cushion the citizens from the effect of the increases without crippling the economy, the president would have taken that option. He insisted however that the president was not going to take a decision that would win him political points at the expense of a robust economy. On taxation, Mr. Anyidoho said if the government is going to give the nation better infrastructure, there is a need to increase the threshold of taxes. He said raising taxes in itself is not a bad thing as most developed social democratic nations such as Denmark and Finland have managed their economies efficiently with taxes and still continue to dole out money to developing countries. He hinted that the increases in taxes will go to support the Single Spine Salary Structure for public servants in the country, thereby mitigating the harsh effects of the taxes. Mr. Anyidoho said in 2009, President Mills laid the foundation for a successful take-off and in 2010, the government created a conducive environment for growth. He reiterated the President’s point that 2011 will be a year of action which will witness tremendous infrastructural development. Story by Derick Romeo Adogla/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana