Connect with us

Politics

Alan Kyerematen launches Great Transformational Plan; promises to stop sole-sourcing

Published

on

Mr Alan Kyerematen, Leader of the Movement for Change, has reiterated plans to run “a lean administration” with not more than 40 ministers if elected President in the December polls.

Highlighting a number of economic and governance initiatives, Mr Kyerematen noted that sole-sourcing had “bloated government expenditure over the years”, and promised to stop the practice in public procurement “to ensure value for money”.

Mr Kyerematen stated this and other key policies during the official launch of the Party’s Great Transformational Plan (GTP) in Accra on Monday.

The launch brought together supporters and sympathisers of the Party from across the country.

He said his administration would amend Article 66 (1) of the Constitution to extend the term of office of the President from four years to five years, with a maximum two-year term in office.

The Flagbearer said he would “consolidate” all existing government departments, agencies, and other public sector organisations that had “overlapping mandates into a single administrative unit”, and cited the Ministry of Energy as one of such institutions.

“We will reduce government spending and financing of infrastructural project by at least 60 percent and rather introduce innovate private sector financing using models such as Build Operate and Transfer.

“…We will undertake a comprehensive review of government spending to reduce the national public expenditure to GDP to a target not less than 10 percent,” he stated.

Part of the economic policies under the GTP, according to Mr Kyerematen, include “a reform of the country’s tax structure” to focus more on direct taxes than indirect taxes.

He said his administration would abolish levies, including the COVID-19 Levy and import levy on spare parts.

“We will abolish all taxes on importation of spare parts within two years, and other administrative levies that have been imposed at the port to reduce the tax burden on importers; these will make the country have the lowest tax regimes in the ECOWAS sub-region in three years,” he stated.

Mr Kyerematen also expressed concern over the use of foreign currency in domestic transactions, and said his administration would implement policies to stop the practice.

“Everybody wants to use Dollar, but that is not your currency…if you are taking Dollars, how do you expect to stabilise your currency? He asked.

He said the GTP had an “aggressive plan for industrial transformation”, which included “a review implementation of the One District One Factory programme”.

Part of the vision to diversify the economy, he noted, was to “accelerate the growth of 10 new strategic industries”, such as vehicle assembly and component manufacturing, garment and textiles, and pharmaceuticals.

“We will abolish existing practice of cocoa external loan syndication and, in place, issue domestic bonds and securities to mobilise cedis to buy cocoa from farmers so that when we sell our cocoa, the full benefit can come into the economy,” he stated among other key propositions.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Politics

Bawumia- “Mahama’s Economic Record Bad”

Published

on

The presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has openly criticised former President John Dramani Mahama’s economic management, describing it as the worst among Ghana’s Fourth Republic leaders.

According to him, during Mr. Mahama’s tenure, the economy experienced substantial setbacks across multiple sectors, marked by soaring inflation, sluggish growth, and increasing unemployment.

Speaking at the Ghana CEO Presidential Gala in Accra last Thursday, Dr. Bawumia asserted that his criticism was based on hard economic data rather than partisan views.

He contrasted this with what he described as Ghana’s improved economic trajectory under NPP leadership, asserting that Mr. Mahama’s tenure represented a “decisive failure in economic stewardship.”

Dr. Bawumia stressed that his analysis was intended to highlight the need for sound economic management and that his remarks were meant to shed light on measurable outcomes of Mr. Mahama’s policies, which he said weakened the country’s economic resilience.

The NPP presidential candidate expressed his commitment to building on the progress achieved under the Akufo-Addo administration.

He underscored the importance of data-driven policies and positioned himself as the candidate most capable of navigating Ghana through future economic challenges.

“Despite the impact of global economic challenges, it might surprise some, including the former president himself, that his administration ranks the lowest in economic performance among all Fourth Republic leaders,” Dr. Bawumia reiterated.

He continued, “Yet, he speaks about our economic performance as though his was superior.”

Business Development

Dr. Bawumia also used the opportunity to reaffirm his commitment to strengthening business development in the country, stressing that resilient businesses are foundational to a thriving economy.

He praised the role of the private sector in creating jobs, driving innovation, and fostering sustainable growth.

The NPP flagbearer detailed policies introduced by the current administration to support Ghanaian businesses, including initiatives aimed at enhancing entrepreneurship, expanding access to credit, and advancing digitalisation.

According to Dr. Bawumia, these steps are critical to building a competitive, innovative, and resilient business sector.

He promised that, if elected, he would continue to prioritise business growth in order to ensure the Ghanaian economy remains vibrant and competitive on a global scale.

“Ladies and gentlemen, as you may know, Bawumia means business! From banking to vice presidency, my commitment to business development has been unwavering.

“Strong businesses lead to a strong economy—show me a prosperous nation, and I’ll show you resilient businesses behind it,” he concluded.

Continue Reading

Politics

NPP, NDC have mismanaged Ghana – GUM

Published

on

The Ghana Union Movement (GUM) has criticised the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for “mismanaging the country” and supervising the sale of state-owned businesses bequeathed by previous governments.

The Party said the sale of state-owned factories to private individuals and failure to revive defunct state enterprises largely accounted for the growing youth employment situation that had bedeviled the country.

These were contained in a news release issued by the Party’s founder and leader, Reverend Christian Kwabena Andrews, and shared with the Ghana News Agency.

The GUM urged the youth to “be concerned about their future” and vote to break the duopoly enjoyed by the NPP and NDC for decades.

“Embracing both NDC and NPP as a party is just endorsement of the continuity of the Ghanaian predicament. Ghanaian youth must rise to vote massively against these parties, because they were the source of our problems today,” it said.

The GUM said the slow pace of development since the commencement of the Fourth Republic in 1992 justified the call for the “total overhaul” of the 1992 Constitution “considering the mess caused by both NDC and NPP government respectively.”

The Party proposed the adoption of what it termed as “Hybrid African Democracy” which it said was suitable governance model for the country.

“The current model was copied line, hook, and sinker from the West, where they have established and structured institutions to make their democracy work,” it said.

The GUM also called for downsizing of Parliament to reduce the cost of running the business of the House.

The Party said that salaries and benefits awarded to 275 Members of Parliament as well as Article 75 Office Holders “drain the national purse than building it.”

“We urge the public to vote for the Ghana Union Movement for a reliable, better Ghana with the Ghanaian youth as its core,” the Party said.

The GUM caused a stir when it placed third in the 2020 presidential election, beating the traditional Convention People’s Party, People’s National Convention, and the Progressive People’s Party.

The party garnered 105,548 votes, representing 0.805 per cent of the total ballots cast.

Rev. Andrews has indicated that the Party would build on its achievements in 2020 and affect the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections.

The GUM has promised to establish factories in every region and operate a free port to boost economic activities and improve the living conditions of the people.

Continue Reading

Politics

Bagbin Addresses Media Today

Published

on

In a significant development, Ghana’s Parliament Speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin is set to address the media on Wednesday, November 6, 2024.

The press conference, scheduled for 2:00 pm at the Justice D.F. Annan Auditorium, Job 600, Parliament House, aims to tackle critical issues affecting Ghana’s parliamentary democracy.

Recent Developments

Alban Bagbin’s address comes amidst significant political developments in Ghana.

As Speaker, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s legislative agenda.

His leadership has been marked by efforts to strengthen parliamentary oversight and promote transparency.

The engagement seeks to provide a platform for the media to discuss pressing concerns impacting Ghana’s democratic growth.

The Speaker, Alban Bagbin, is expected to shed light on recent events that have shaped the country’s political landscape.

Continue Reading

Trending