State of the Nation Address
“RAISING GHANA TO THE NEXT LEVEL”
BY H.E. JOHN EVANS ATTA MILLS
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011
ROADS SECTOR

Part Three

Part Two

Part One

Madam Speaker, I can confidently say that our roads sector expansion project is very much on course.

Ongoing or completed projects include Tetteh Quarshie-Madina, Asankragwa-Enchi, Achimota-Ofankor, Kumasi-Techiman (Phase 2).
The Eastern Corridor road which links Accra through the Volta Region to the Northern Region will begin in earnest once this August House approves the financing arrangements.

A number of feeder road projects were completed in 2010 and more are to follow this year.

And Madam Speaker we cannot fail to notice that traffic lights in major urban centres some of which ceased functioning for about 10 years have been replaced with modern ones designed to work even when there are power outages.

Our busy intersections have therefore become less hazardous for motorists.

Of course, there is still a lot of work to be done and we are not relenting in our effort in this regard.

HOUSING

Madam Speaker, the sod has just been cut for work to commence on the construction of an initial 30,000 housing units out of a total of 200,000 units to be completed in 5 years.

The first phase of the 30,000 units is targeted at the security agencies in all the 10 Regions in order to provide decent and acceptable accommodation for our men and women in uniform.
Subsequently, all other categories of workers will also benefit from the increase in our housing stock.

WATER

Madam Speaker, some progress is being made in the existing water supply situation.

Through rationing, many parts of Accra now have access to water.
The rehabilitation of water treatment plant and pipelines at Kpong which is expected to start this year as well as the ongoing ATMA Rural Water Supply Project will go a long way in further improving water supply.

The Kwanyako-Kasoa Water Interconnection Project has brought relief to the people of Kasoa, Awutu, Senya Beraku, Gomoa Fetteh and its environs.

The expansion of Kumasi Barekese Water Treatment Plant has also been completed.

The water treatment plants at Konongo, Kumawu and Kwahu and other projects covering Damongo, Essakyer, Bolgatanga, Navrongo, Bongo as well as several other District capitals and towns throughout the country are concrete evidence of our determination to meet the Millennium Development Goals of water for all by 2015.

EMPLOYMENT

Madam Speaker, our massive infrastructure expansion plans in the areas of housing, roads and railways, will open up lots of job opportunities for many categories of our labour force.

The National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) continues to expand its operations and is giving employment to lots of our youth.
Our Youth in Agriculture Programme is also going to create more jobs especially after the Accra Plains irrigation project takes off.

Madam Speaker, our security agencies have already started recruitment exercises which will see a number of our youth in uniform once they complete their training programmes.

It is also anticipated that once our financial institutions respond appropriately and reduce the cost of credit, the ability to access loans will stimulate industry growth which will in turn create opportunities for job creation.

YOUTH AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT

Madam Speaker, Madam Speaker, my Christmas card for last year featured a picture of the gallant Black Stars who did the nation proud in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

I meant it as a signal that our country’s heroes will always be remembered and that Ghana is worth dying for.

Once again, on behalf of all the people of Ghana I congratulate them for doing the nation proud.

We must strive to maintain the high standards Ghana has set in world football.

In this regard, the Youth and Sports Ministry is being tasked to collaborate with the GFA and private stakeholders to rebuild colts football as a base for the growth of Ghana’s football.

Other sporting disciplines will also be used as rallying points to harness the potential of the youth.

Madam Speaker, we are going make an effort to reorient the psyche of our youth towards what we consider to be Ghanaian values – especially on the issue of moral consciousness.

The Ministry of Education will be working in conjunction with the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture as well as the relevant state and private entities to reinforce Arts and Culture Festivals in second cycle institutions.

Also, Choral Festivals will be organized from the district to the national level.

The idea is to have a National Festival of Arts, Culture and Choral Music championed by the youth to reignite their sense of belonging.

CORRUPTION

Madam Speaker, one governance issue that will forever remain close to my heart, is the fight against corruption.

As a way of strengthening institutions of state for the fight against corruption and provide the needed teeth to bite, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has been reengineered and named the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) with prosecutorial powers.

About a fortnight ago, Ghanaians watched a shocking expose of corrupt activities and practices involving revenue collection at the Tema Port.

Last year, there was a similar expose on cocoa smuggling along the country’s borders.

I expect the Ghana Revenue Authority to relentlessly pursue people who fail to, or, under-declare incomes simply to avoid paying taxes because the principle of equity demands that the burden of tax should be shared among all citizens.

I also expect the management of the Ghana Revenue Authority and Customs Excise and Preventive Services (CEPS) for that matter to act without delay to restore public confidence in the organization.
Madam Speaker, In respect of the Ghana Standards Board and Food and Drugs Board, I expect them to collaborate to stop the dumping of sub-standard goods on the Ghanaian market.

Madam Speaker, I am also concerned about reports from the Auditor-General of lack of co-operation by some government departments.

Accordingly, I have directed the Auditor-General to invoke the letter and spirit of Act 584 on the withholding of salaries and other emoluments and privileges to persons who fail to heed queries from the Auditor General’s Department.

Madam Speaker, we will continue to cooperate with civil society and anti-corruption agencies to continue to wage a concerted war against corruption.

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