Page Two

President Kufuor's state of the nation address - Full statement

February 7, 2007, Accra Ghana
 

Continued from Page One

TERTIARY EDUCATION
On tertiary education, government will continue with its programme of expansion of infrastructural development to keep pace with enrolment.

Mr. Speaker, government acknowledges the contribution of the Private Sector in this area, especially the sprouting of universities established by religious bodies. Given the rapidly increasing population of students, running into hundreds of thousands throughout the country, the institutions are faced with demand for hostel facilities. Government appreciates the role the GETFund is playing. Government is inviting also the Private Sector to assist in meeting this need.

A scholarship scheme has been fashioned under the GetFund Manpower Development Scholarship Scheme, to train faculty. In 2005/2006, some 60 faculty of tertiary institutions were sponsored for overseas training. Conditions of service to attract bright young people to make a career of teaching at this level are also under consideration.

TEACHER EDUCATION
Mr. Speaker, the entire reform is hinged on the central role of teacher education. Thus, government is committed to upgrading all the 38 Teacher Training Colleges. As part of the process, a diploma programme was introduced in Teacher Training Colleges in the 2003/04 academic year. The first batch of teacher trainees will graduate in June this year.

Central to the improvement is the emphasis on the study of science, mathematics and technology. Indeed, 15 colleges have been selected for extra specialization in the teaching and learning of these three subjects. Vehicles and teaching and learning materials have been provided to all teacher training colleges to facilitate the realization of this policy.

SCIENCE
The whole purpose of the reform is to encourage the development of a scientific and development outlook and towards this end. During the year, work on the establishment of two Bio-technology Centres and a National Accelerator Laboratory will commence. Construction of a Library and Computer Centre for the newly established College of Nuclear Sciences will also begin.

SPORTS
The policy of the government is to re-position sports as the embodiment of the spirit of the new Ghana. This should enhance a sense of integration, peace and development. Government is committed to sustaining the huge gains made at the 2006 Soccer World Cup tournament as well as propelling the nation’s sports to new heights.

CAN 2008
In this regard, the country is gearing up for the hosting of the continent’s biggest football fiesta. The construction of two new stadia at Sekondi and Tamale is on schedule and the rehabilitation of the Accra and Kumasi stadia is also progressing steadily. Arrangements for funding to support the construction of the Cape Coast stadium are being finalized and construction is expected to commence in the course of this year.

The senior national team, the Black Stars will be given the motivation and encouragement it needs to prepare adequately for the CAN 2008. Did somebody say we trounced a team from a neighbouring country lately? This portends well for CAN 2008 and the world Cup later in South Africa.

MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT
Mr. Speaker, on the labour front, the National Youth Employment Programme which was launched during the latter part of last year, remains on course. Lessons learnt from 2006 will be fed into this year’s programme to explore both short term and long term opportunities.

Other projects and programmes for the year include preparation of a National Employment Policy; Implementation of the Programme of Action for eliminating the worst forms of Child Abuse; and Finalization for submission to Parliament of the NGO and Trust Bill and the Persons with Disability Bill.

PROVISION OF SOCIAL SERVICES
Mr. Speaker, water supply has as high a priority as energy, as far as this government is concerned. Towards this end, it has caused boreholes, hand-dug wells and pipe system in their hundreds to be constructed for rural water delivery. Mr. Speaker, for urban water delivery, never in the history of this country has a more massive scale of construction of water projects been embarked upon.

Outstanding among the projects in Cape Coast, in the Central Region, a 36.9 million Euro project to bring water from the Pra River at Hemang is 58% complete. When commissioned in November this year, water shortages that ever so often disrupt the school calendar in Cape Coast and its environs will be a thing of the past.

Similarly, rehabilitation of the water treatment plant at Kwanyaku, also in the Central Region is about 95% complete, and is to be completed before June this year. It will guarantee water for Kwanyako, Swedru, and 30 to 40 small and medium towns and villages in that whole area. Also in the Central Region, Baafikrom, near Mankessim is a water Project that has been going since 2006 and is to be completed in 2008. The project will provide potable water to meet demand into 2020 for many villages and towns in the area.

In Tamale, in the Northern Region, a 45.0 million Euro water project is scheduled for completion in 2008. It will increase production capacity to 9.3 million gallons daily, enough to meet demand up to 2015. All the communities along the transmission line including Nyankpala, Vitting, Shishegu, Savelugu, Kumbungu, Yapeligu, all the way to Pong Tamale, Yoggu, Datoyoli and Walewale will benefit from the project.  .....

Further, in the Eastern Region, another 35.8 million Euro project in Koforidua is to be completed in early 2008. It will have an output of 3 million gallons a day, to meet demand up to 2025. Besides Koforidua, the beneficiary communities include Ketenkye, Asokore, Oyoko, Avalalikope, Kasakorpe, Bukuonor, Galorba Oterkpolu, Pleyo, Okper, Odorkrom and Aboabo.

Mr. Speaker, another project which will make a big difference to access to water is the Accra East-West Interconnection which is on going and should be completed in 2008. It is designed to transport water from Weija to the Okponglo booster station to augment supply to Adenta, Madina, East Legon, Ashaley Botwe, Kwabenya, Asongman and Dome.

Meanwhile, government is negotiating a credit line for work to start in the second quarter of 2007 to desilt the Kpong Dam. This is the second phase to the Accra East-West Interconnection. It will guarantee sustained supply to the entire Accra-Tema Metropolis for decades to come. In view of the many water projects being undertaken, the fight against water borne diseases has a better chance of success than ever before.

HEALTH CARE DELIVERY
Mr. Speaker, our manpower development programme is seriously compromised wherever ill-health intervenes. To guarantee soundness of body, Government’s programme for 2007 is one of Promoting healthy lifestyles and§ healthy environment Improving access to quality health, reproduction and§ nutrition services Capacity development for health delivery§ National§ Health Insurance Scheme

Mr. Speaker, there is little point to having excellent programmes and facilities that for reasons of cost cannot be accessed by those who need health-care most. It is precisely for addressing this need that the National Health Insurance Scheme is of utmost concern to this government.

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to report that, as at the close of 2006, the number of District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes stood at 134, 11 more than the previous year. I can report further that 34% of the population, had registered; 25%, had either paid up their premiums fully or belonged to exempt groups; and close to 18% had been issued with ID cards, entitling them to free access to health services covered by the Scheme. This year, the Scheme is expected to achieve 55% coverage.

Mr. Speaker, in present circumstances, I dare say that there is no more affordable alternative to NHIS. Whatever our political affiliation may be, we must value the health of our constituents sufficiently to bring them on board the Scheme as soon as possible.

Mr. Speaker, the fight against HIV/AIDS is succeeding and the prevalence rate is down to 2.7 from 3.1. Malaria is being combated by a combination of Insecticide Treated Nets, preventive medication, and advances in anti-malarial drugs. 100 per cent coverage for measles immunization in children is the national profile.

Emergency and Ambulance Services have benefited from the strategic distribution of 50 ambulances and the establishment of 20 accident stations in 8 regions. A fully operational National Accident and Emergency Centre is also coming up at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR
Mr. Speaker, six years ago, when government announced the policy to make the Private Sector the main engine for economic growth, it sounded overly ambitious. So familiar were the seemingly intractable problems which had made the sector unattractive to many an otherwise potential entrepreneur. Today, as a result of the stabilising macro-economy, improved public/private sector partnership which is expected to be enhanced further through the on-going Public Sector Reforms; conditions within the private sector are becoming more conducive to business.

VENTURE CAPITAL FUND; MEDIUM & SMALL SCALE LOANS SCHEME The sector is being invigorated further through the provision of various form of funding. In addition to various micro credit funds already in the system, and the Venture Capital Fund introduced earlier, the Micro-credit and Small Loans Scheme (MASLOC) was also launched last year to give a further boost to the sector. MASLOC has offices in all regional capitals and is in the process of establishing 345 sub-district desks to make their services easily accessible to potential beneficiaries. Government is considering setting up an apex authority to oversee the administration of all these funds to ensure efficient and focused implementation. The objective is to empower the Private Sector further.

AGRICULTURE

Mr. Speaker, agriculture the largest section of the private sector, continues to be the mainstay of the national economy. Government’s policy is to enhance productivity of the sector through application of science and technology and best practices. These include provision of irrigation facilities, improved planting materials, effective extension services and various forms of credit.

This approach was adopted in the cocoa industry; and the result has been phenomenal, recording the highest production ever, of over 740,000 tonnes, during the 2005-2006 cocoa seasons. The target of COCOBOD is to hit the one million ton mark within the next 3 years; and this will not be at the compromise of the world acclaimed quality of the bean.

This policy of applying science and technology together with best practices is being applied to the cultivation of legumes, cereals, vegetables, staples like plantain and yam, and horticultural produce like mangoes, pineapples and pawpaw. It explains their year-long presence in the markets at fairly reasonable prices even during off-season these days.

THE MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE ACCOUNT
Mr. Speaker, one of the highlights of the year 2006 was the signing in Washington of the Compact of the US Millennium Challenge Account between Ghana and the US. This has made Ghana beneficiary to an amount of US$ 547million for modernisation of her agriculture and the transformation of her rural economy.

Mr. Speaker, in this one huge project we are afforded the model of what our agriculture should be. The vision is that the success will spill over and be replicated throughout the country.

I commend the House for working with dispatch on the approval of the MCA bill. The Authority to manage the Programme has been established. Government will maintain oversight interest to ensure that the objectives of the programme are met.

Let me call on the whole nation to show an interest in this programme which is expected to generate allied businesses like storage and warehousing, sales and marketing, transportation and processing and thereby create more than 2 million jobs for individuals both within and outside the project districts.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Mr. Speaker, this government initiated the President’s Special Initiative (PSIs) to promote the policy of making Ghana a leading agro-industrial nation. The PSI is designed to showcase the best example of Public/Private partnership. Government acts as facilitator for the private sector to access resources and best practices to guarantee success.

Despite the great enthusiasm on the part of both government and participating farmers, the PSIs encountered difficult teething problems which have provided invaluable lessons for the future. The potential of the PSIs for generating employment and foreign exchange, as well as transforming the rural landscape is however not in doubt.

Government is therefore taking the necessary steps to re-energize the PSIs to make them more functionally efficient and competitive.

For instance, the Ayensu Starch Factory which was established at Bawjiase in the Central Region fell on poor supplies of the raw material and uncommitted personnel. Government has instructed a review of the processes there; and expects that by April this year, the factory will resume operations.

Similarly, at the PSI for Oil Palm, 50,000 acres of nurseries have been frustrated by poor working capital. Government has instructed a thorough review of the problem so that the targeted 500,000 acres can be reached.

Under the PSI for Garments and Textiles, 9 factories have already been established, with capacity to employ almost 4,000 people. 10 new factory units are also being established in Kumasi, Koforidua and Tema. The primary export destination for the garment products is the United States of America under the AGOA Initiative. Significantly, this year, a major conference of all the countries enjoying the AGOA status is being held under the joint auspices of the governments of US and Ghana, in Accra.

In the case of the PSI for Salt, this year, some producers are making major strides with their ventures. Those lagging behind will be provided with credit facilities to expand their production units, whilst others will be helped to improve their technology and production operations.

Under the Government’s programme for revitalizing distressed State-owned Enterprises, the Pwalugu Tomato Factory has been rehabilitated and will resume production this year, with over 1,300 farmers being supported to cultivate tomato to feed the factory.

Under the same programme, the old Juapong Textiles Company is currently being re-activated with some Chinese company and will also commence full scale operations in April, employing about 800 people initially.

INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT
Mr. Speaker, there is a popular saying that “businesses follow roads”. In line with this, government is extending a network of roads to all corners of the country, and even beyond to link us to our immediate neighbours in the sub-region. The work that has been done in this respect in the past six years is phenomenal. Honourable Members may from time to time want to drive through some of our new roads like the Accra-Kumasi; Accra-Cape Coast; Accra-Aburi-Koforidua; Agona Nkwanta-Tarkwa or the Kumasi-Techiman and Bamboi-Tinga roads to see developments for themselves.

Throughout the country, similar vigorous developments are occurring in the case of trunk and feeder roads.

AVIATION
Mr. Speaker, with respect to aviation, our vision is to make Ghana the hub of the sub-region. The need to pursue this vision has become even more urgent given the steady growth of the economy and the level of investor interest. Towards this end, the ongoing developments of the Kotoka airport will continue and the regional airports are all to be brought up to standard. This will facilitate all weather movement around the country by tourists and football fans at CAN 2008.

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
Mr. Speaker, today the revolution of Information Communication Technology is fundamentally changing the way the world works and decreasing the marginal cost of production and raising productivity across all industries. The Government will continue to place emphasis on the potential of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to provide the foundation for transforming the nation’s economy. Government has accordingly integrated the Ghana ICT Policy for Accelerated Growth as a driver and enabler, within the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS II).

To ensure that every District has access to high speed internet connection and promote a wider penetration of ICT services throughout the country, including distance education and tele-medicine, the Government has secured from the Government of China, a concessionary loan facility of $30 million to construct a national Fibre Optic Communication Backbone. This project will start this year and will go a long way to mainstream our economy in the digital world.

Mr. Speaker, Government has secured another facility of $40 million from the World Bank towards the Ghana project. The implementation of this project is expected to increase employment through Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), enhanced revenue collection, the computerization of IRS and other revenue agencies and increased human capacity development in the ICT enabled sector.

The National Information Technology Agency (NITA) will also be established to coordinate the implementation of various e-government projects throughout the country including the formulation of a national enterprise IT architecture. Government intends to pass an e-Transaction Bill this year. This will tackle issues of data protection, cyber crimes, intellectual property and security. There will be positive outcomes for business and for consumers, giving all parties greater confidence in e-commerce.

The positive policies adopted by this government and sustenance of competition have led to a tremendous increase in telephone subscriptions in both the fixed and mobile sectors. From a figure of 215,000 subscribers in 2001, the number has shot up to about 4.5 million as of September 2006. Despite these increases, Government intends to create a more competitive market structure by privatizing WESTEL and Ghana Telecom in the course of this year.

Mr. Speaker, the ultimate aim of Government’s strategy is to transform Ghana into a country with sufficient and efficient, communications infrastructure. This will be driven by appropriate technological innovations accessible to all citizens.

NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM

The implementation of the National Identification System has reached a critical stage. Mass Registration is about to take place for the realization of this objective in the first quarter of this year.

Given the sensitive and security concerns associated with national identification systems, a Bill will be presented to Parliament with a view to regulating the processes.

The citizens identity card will address most of the issues of national concern including the need for reliable data for national planning, for poverty reduction programmes, Control of fraud, school enrolment and planning; issuance of passports and drivers’ licence, identification of customers at banks and even for disaster management.

This is a very important national programme which needs the support of all and sundry.

GOOD GOVERNANCE
Mr. Speaker continued good governance is a top priority policy which has underpinned all activities of this government for the past 6 years. It has been extremely important to enhance citizens’ participation in governance at all levels and also, implement policies and programmes that will enable them realise their full potential in an atmosphere of peace and security.

Government is facilitating the on-going local government system to deepen citizen participation even further. At the moment, the composite budgeting system has been introduced to enable Assemblies to appreciate the quantum of funding available for their functions. This system will enable Assemblies to prioritise their needs, and rationalize their spending.

The Assemblies should also realise that that with the expansion of the mandate of the Ministry of Local Government to cover the Environment, they have received additional charge to manage their own environment and sanitation.

Mr. Speaker, for the past 6 years, government has invested huge sums of money in training and equipping the police and also in increasing the numerical strength of the staff to enhance the quality of policing and the law and order situation in the country. In 2006 alone, 3,547 new police personnel were recruited into the service. This is reflected in the improving law and order situation in the country.

Mr. Speaker, I want to appeal to all our traditional societies with the country to be mindful of the need for peace as the bedrock of our development and as a result shun all matters that will degenerate into conflicts and instability in their respective areas. I find it necessary to make this appeal because of continued reports from all over the country. As much as possible, all misunderstandings should be resolved peacefully or with recourse to the law.

I must also mention the menace of drug pushing and trafficking which threaten not only our peace and security as a nation but also the country’s hard-won image and reputation.

Government in partnership with concerned international agencies is determined to wage a relentless war and eradicate this menace. All parents and responsible citizens should rally to support government in this effort.

Mr. Speaker, last year, Ghana had the honour of chairing the UN Security council. Just last week, at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa Ghana was elected unanimously to the Chair. This is certainly a huge honour for our country. Clearly, our policies are yielding results both locally and internationally. Ghana will use this unique opportunity to advance the cause of peace and development on the continent. Further, Ghana will remain committed to her international bi-lateral and multi-lateral obligations. Our nation will maintain its policy of good-neighbourliness at sub-regional and continental levels. Ghana will also continue to play an active part in peace keeping programmes in a bid to promote global peace.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to use this occasion to thank our development partners and the international community who have supported Ghana’s development efforts.

PRESIDENTIAL COMPLEX

Last year, I told the nation through this august House the need for a befitting Presidential Complex for Ghana. I am happy to report that work has begun on such a complex, at Flagstaff House. By the end of the year, God willing, the project would be completed. Refurbishment of Peduase Lodge is also on course.

GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATION

Mr. Speaker, I have noted with joy report of a special sitting of Parliament on Monday, February 5, where young people held a “Mock Parliament” as part of the Ghana at 50 celebrations. I understand the House was full; and I hear that those who were privileged to witness the ceremony left with the reassurance that the future of our country would be safe in the hands of the young people who were the parliamentarians for the day.

But side by side with this exuberance and hope for the future, isn’t it sad, Mr. Speaker, that there are some people who are arguing that there should be no celebrations to mark this jubilee year of our nationhood? And the reason they cite is poverty. It is as though joy issues exclusively out of money. Let us be careful that we do not become known as those who know the cost of everything and the value of nothing.

Yes, we have had, and we still have difficulties; we have had what might be called a chequered history and to quote everybody’s favourite teacher, “we could have done better”. It is true that we have fallen short of the high aspirations with which Ghana was ushered into independence on March 6, 1957. .

But it is equally true that we have recovered our track and are making headway. We therefore have cause to celebrate. Fortunately most of us appreciate the values which have helped us to rediscover ourselves and we should be thankful to the Almighty.

Let us think of ourselves in the best possible terms; and use the opportunity of this jubilee year to uplift our spirits and the national psyche. We should be careful not to miss our way again. Let us resolve to cherish our national Constitution and let us be each other’s keeper.

This is the time to take pride in our land and in ourselves; let us celebrate Ghana. After all, this is the land of freedom and justice.

And so I say long live Ghana!

Let me also wish us all a happy yearlong 50th anniversary celebration.

Mr. Speaker, thank you and May God bless Us All.