Press Conference By The Economic Committee Of New Patriotic Party (NPP)

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Category: Elections & Governance

Created on Thursday, 04 October 2012 00:00

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Press Conference By The Economic Committee Of New Patriotic Party (NPP)On The Declining Growth Of The Economy

Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen of the media. We have invited you here this morning to brief you on the DECLINING GROWTH OF THE ECONOMY as we prepare to vote out the non - performing and incompetent Mahama/ Amissah-Arthur caretaker Administration in December this year (in 64 days time).

{sidebar id=10 align=right}On September 26th, 2012 the AG. Government Statistician, Dr. Philomena Nyarko informed Ghanaians at a press conference that the projected GDP growth rate is 7.1 percent for 2012. This figure is 2.3 percent lower than the government’s own projected growth rate of 9.4 percent.

The details of the macroeconomic targets for 2012 are as follows;

Real non-oil GDP growth of 7.6 per cent;

Real overcall GDP growth of 9.4 per cent;

Average inflation of 8.7 per cent;

End of period inflation of 8.5 per cent;

Overall budget deficit of 4.8 per cent;

Gross reserves of not less than 3months.

(Page 141 of the Budget Statement 2012)

In 2011, the government announced that the growth rate in Ghana was 14.4%. Of that growth, about half of it (7.5%) were from the non-oil economy while the other half was from the new found crude oil.

The NDC and their apologists touted this as an unprecedented growth and achievement. But it appears the proceeds from the crude oil was not used to invest in further economic activities in the country.

Indeed, in 2012, our economic growth rate projected to is slow down from 14.4% to an expected yet unbelievable level of 7.1%. The abysmal performance of the economy was a blow not only to those who seem not to understand what growth rate means, in their World, growth has become synonymous with rising cost of living, unemployment, layoffs, depreciation of the cedi, load shedding of power even when the Akosombo Dam is full, high lending rates of banks, strangulating debt stock and so on and so on. In an interview with the Daily Graphic (27th September, 2012), a professional like, Dr. Joseph Abbey, the Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Analysis (CEPA) said that he was shocked by the findings of the provisional data from Ghana Statistical Services. Similar sentiments have been expressed by the business community and other professionals.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the press, even in 2008, when Ghana was not producing crude oil, the economy grew by 8.4% under the NPP government. So an expected growth rate of 7.1% with the arrival of crude oil in 2012 is unpardonable! The Mahama / Amissah-Arthur administration cannot gloss over this drastic decline in economic performance, Ghanaians need explanation.

In particular, government must explain why agricultural growth rates have systematically declined and now it is expected to be 2.6% the lowest since 2006. You recall that in 2008 the agricultural growth rate was 7.4%.

The records are that, agricultural growth rate declined from 7.4% in 2008 to 7.2%in 2009 5.3% in 2010, 2.8% in 2011 and now 2.6% the lowest ever since 2006.

Agriculture, Ladies and Gentlemen, is normally input driven, that is, the availability and use of fertilizers, insecticides, seedlings, agricultural and other inputs affect productivity and growth in the sector. It is a known fact that, agric inputs from Ghana are diverted to neighboring countries hence the unavailability and high cost of inputs to our dear farmers.

So today, it is not unusual to find chemicals produced specifically for the Ghanaian farmer are openly on sale in Cote d’ivoire, Togo and Nigeria, some of these chemicals bear the inscription Ghana COCOBOD, CODAPEC – NOT FOR SALE.

Again, why is it that productivity in the industrial sector is systematically declining (growing at 15.1% by the close of 2008, and grew by 41.1% only last year with the arrival of crude oil) now growing at an unimpressive 7.0 per cent in 2012.

As clearly pointed out, during the lecture by Dr.Mahamudu Bawumia the Vice Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and at the First Press Conference of the Economic Committee of the NPP, the accelerated depreciation of the cedi has made it extremely difficult for industries to plan and finance their raw material inputs, leading obviously to decline in production.

The borrowing from the domestic market by government through the issue of Treasury Bills has crowded out the private sector generally including industry from the banking system (91 day Treasury Bill rate in January was 10.83%, March was 12.3%, June 20%, September 22.8%). High and increasing T-bill rates divert money to the government from the available funds in the banking system.

The unreliability of energy to industry has further compounded the problem of industry, increasing their cost of production through the use of generators to power industry and high downtime. There is a general lack of business and investor confidence in the economy. This has naturally reduce investment in the industrial sector leading to decline in productivity and growth.

The Bank of Ghana Composite Index of Economic Activity (CIEA) showed an annual growth rate of 7.7% in June 2012 compared to 20.1% in the same period of 2011 under the Governorship of H.E Mr. Amissah- Arthur, the current Vice President.

Refer to paragraph 8 of the Monetary Policy Committee report released on September 12, 2012.

Furthermore, according to the same report the business confidence index computed from the latest Bank of Ghana surveys, declined from 96.4 in March 2012 to 95.1 in June 2012. According to the report this was driven by softened business sentiments on the exchange rate, sale prospects, profit level, as well as higher inflation expectations. Similarly the consumer confidence index declined from 99.5 in May, 2012 to 98.4 in July 2012 driven by the lower macro confidence sub – index (paragraph 10 of the MPC report).

All these problems as itemized above have led to labour layoffs that has added to our already high unemployment situation in the country.

It is therefore, not surprising that the Afro-Barometer Report conducted from May to June this year by Center for the Democratic Development (CDD) concluded unambiguously, that “the majority of Ghanaians assess their personal living conditions as very bad or bad”.

The evidence is clear, the economic management team of the NDC which was chaired by President Mahama and now the leader of the caretaker government lacks the skills to manage the economy. Ghana’s economy is worse off today even with the production of crude oil than it was in 2008 under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration without crude oil.

Fellow Ghanaians can you imagine what the situation in the country would have been if the NPP administration under H.E J.A. Kufuor had not discovered oil in commercial quantities for Ghana? The NDC then in opposition did not even believe that we have found oil, because of their usual, can’t do spirit; just as they opposed the NHIS, LEAP Programme, Capitation Grants, School Feeding Programme, Metro Mass Transit etc. So it is not surprising that the NDC can’t do spirit is again being exhibited by their opposition to the Free SHS Education policy for all.

It is time for Change in the management of the country.

It is time for change to Move Ghana Forward.

Let us together change this government NOW and bring in an NPP government under the visionary leadership Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to Transform Lives and Transform Ghana.

Thank You.

Delivered by Hon. Yaw Osafo – Maafo (CHAIRMAN) - 0244330000

Committee members present:

1. Hon. Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku - 0244312881

2. Hon. Isaac Osei - 0244154589

3. Mr. John Boadu (secretary) - 0244668541

Source: NPP Communication Directorate

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Comment: Is the Techimanhene also a Ghanaian?

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Category: History

Created on Tuesday, 23 March 2010 00:00

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Is the Techimanhene also a Ghanaian?

I do not intend to fan the embers of ethnicity, nor do I wish to impugn someone’s reputation. In my history class, I was taught that barbarism and uncouthness belonged to the medieval ages, and I was also told that men with brutish nature died in prehistoric era. But the recent inhumane treatment to the Tuobodomhene, Nana Baffour Asare II, has forced me to have a rethink.

Anyone who, like me, has taken a keen eye on the Tuobodom-versus-Techiman saga must be taken aback by the unfolding drama. Any curious mind might ask: What is the issue? Dear reader, a bit of history lesson: There are some nine towns under the Tano-Subin Stool Lands including Branam, Buoyem, Tuobodom and Nkyiraa. Since time immemorial, these towns have owed allegiance to the Golden Stool.

It must be noted that, in 1995, the late Dotobiribi Ameyaw in the company of other Chiefs (Kukuomhene, etc) went to Manhyia to request from the late Otumfuo Opoku Ware II that he be allowed to administer those towns on behalf of the Golden Stool. The request was flatly turned down. Even when the bill for the creation of Brong Ahafo Region was sent to parliament, it was stipulated that it was not in any way going to affect communities that owed allegiance to their respective Stools.

Flip back the pages of the book of history, and you would realise that at no time in history did Tuobodom owe allegiance to Techiman. Let me state emphatically, and for posterity sake, that as far back as the 1700s, Tuobodom has continued to owe allegiance to the Golden Stool.

We claim to be practising democracy, a form of government where the constitution of the land is supreme. I am beginning to suspect that either some persons are above the rule of law, or the institutions are simply not working. How could one explain the unheard-of action taken by the Techimanhene whereby he sent his bodyguards to abduct the Paramount Chief of Tuobodom Traditional Area to his palace?

True to his type, he did not stop there. He stripped the Tuobodomhene- a 71-year old man- naked (!), tied both his hands and legs, and left him under the scorching sun for three long hours! Like a man-eater in dire need of blood, he subjected the Tuobodomhene to severe beatings, and even at knifepoint ordered that he denounce his allegiance to the Golden Stool. When the indigenes of Tuobodom got wind of the inhumane treatment of their Chief, they took the law into their own hands; this led to the death of three people.

I cannot fathom why the Techimanhene has not been made to face the full rigours of the law. In a desperate bid to rationalize his action, the Techimanhene said he abducted the Tuobodomhene because he wanted to hand him over to the police for a supposed attack on his convoy some two years ago. So I ask: Did the Tuobodomhene go into hiding for almost two years?

If you were shocked at the condemnable action taken by the Techimanhene, you would surely be horrified to learn that - according to the chilling account given by Nana Baffour - the Brong Regional Police Commander and Crime Officer have some selfish interests in the matter. If the allegations against these public officials are true- I actually believe it to be so-, they have violated their professional ethics: and they should bow their heads in shame.

Before I proceed, let me state that the indigenes of Techiman are so refined and sophisticated that I am unable to stomach the abominable acts by the Techimanhene. What is more, did I hear someone say the Techimanhene is a member of the National Peace Council? What irony! I listened to the Secretary of the Peace Council on radio, and I must say that I was awed by his matured submission(s). In fact, until I hear from other members of the Council, I refuse to accept that such a heartless chief belongs to this high-flying group.

It seems this chieftaincy issue has become a fair game for ill-informed critics. I have known Kwesi Pratt to be straightforward (in spite of his occasional jaundiced submissions) on national issues; not minding whose sleep is murdered. But I must say that I was highly disappointed to hear him, last week, on Peace FM questioning why the Asantehene is ‘threatening’ to kidnap the Techimanhene?

The barbaric incident happened last Thursday, and thanks to technology the message spread like wild fire. As customs demand, the Asante King is not expected to comment until the victim (Tuobodomhene) has presented his concerns. Critics of the Asantehene should think about this: if the King wanted to start a war, do you think he would wait till the next Monday before taking an action? Couldn’t he also have hired ‘macho men’ to capture the Techimanhene in the deep of night?

Does Kwesi Pratt, the self-appointed defender of human rights, expect the Asantehene to watch passively while one of his Paramount Chiefs is being harassed by someone? Why are the Kwesi Pratts of this world refusing to acknowledge that it was the abduction of the Tuobodomhene that led to the loss of three precious lives (!)?

Massa Kwesi Pratt, when did it become legally or morally acceptable for the Techimanhene, a civilian for that matter, to abduct a 71-year old Paramount Chief to his palace and subject him to severe beatings? Even besides the protracted chieftaincy issue, would such remarks have leaked from Kwesi Pratt’s mouth if the Tuobodomhene happened to be his biological father? I advise Kwesi to remove his blinkers, stretch his vision a few meters ahead, and realize that it was the grace of God that saved the Tuobodomhene from the jaws of heartlessness. It beats my imagination that Kwesi Pratt would, perhaps, in the name of politics choose to support the Techimanhene even in his shameful enterprise.

Talking about critics brings to mind someone who sees no good in the Asantehene. In an article titled ‘Come again, Asantehene!’ posted on myjoyonline.com, the author, one Dr. M.J. Bokor, did not only fling wicked darts at the subject of his hate, but he exposed crass ignorance of the chieftaincy issue. Hear him: ‘Why didn’t Tuobodom and other areas owing allegiance to the Golden Stool see any disturbance under the reign of the previous two Asantehene?’ Must it be repeated that, in 1996, when the Tuobodomhene was elevated to the status of paramountcy by the late Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, some malcontents burnt down over 30 houses belonging to perceived supporters of the Omanhene- Nana Baffour Asare II.

The author in a bid to satisfy his ulterior motives also wanted to know what had become of a 35 million World Bank loan given to the Asantehene- because of his sterling leadership. If Dr. Bokor is a PhD holder, not one with a pull-him-down title, then, he should as a matter of urgency visit Ghana to see at first hand the numerous projects undertaken by the Asantehene.

To round off this piece, I am forced to ask: What does the Techimanhene want? If, in his calculus, he thought he could gain prominence by kidnapping a fellow Paramount Chief, then, I am afraid, he has met his waterloo. His antics are indeed laughable. He is a tragic reminder of the delinquent chick who, being impervious to advices, chose to fight the eagle. In a discussion about the barbaric act, one interlocutor remarked: ‘Who is the Techimanhene? He is a nobody in the chieftaincy institution’. I could not agree more. In the last five years or so, I have yet to stumble across any news item on him or his activities.

The Techimanhene can continue to flaunt his arrogance in cruelty. No one begrudges him. But he must never forget that in the battle between evil and good, God does not reside with the heaviest battalion (or political backing), but on the side of innocence. I surely know that falsehood shall not triumph over truth for too long. I rest my case.

Credit: Afreh Manu Bernard
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NPP opens nominations for 45 constituencies tomorrow

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Category: Politics

Created on Thursday, 04 October 2012 00:00

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NPP opens nominations for 45 constituencies tomorrow

{sidebar id=10 align=right}The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) will Thursday October 4, 2012 open nominations for members who want to contest the parliamentary primaries in the 45 newly created constituencies.

Party’s General Secretary Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie announced that nominations would be closed on October 6.

The party has therefore set 14th October to hold primaries in all the 45 constituencies, after vetting has been concluded on October 9.

Mr Owusu-Afriyie told the media on Wednesday that the NPP is ready to “vigorously contest” all the 45 seats in the December 7 parliamentary election.

He was emphatic that the party would not cede any of the constituencies.

The General Secretary was confident that the NPP will win more than half of the new constituencies.

“We have a strong research base, and our research shows that the NPP will win more seats than any other political party,” he stressed.

According to Mr Owusu-Afriyie, the NPP never opposed the creation of the constituencies, he explained, the party was only fighting to ensure that no registered Ghanaian is disenfranchised.

“Now that it has become law, we shall contest with all forces at our disposal.”

From: Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com

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Chief Imam okayed Akufo-Addo Lecture On Eid

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Category: Politics

Created on Sunday, 04 September 2011 00:00

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Chief Imam okayed Akufo-Addo Lecture On Eid

The editor of the Daily Searchlight Newspaper, Kenneth Korankye has described as hypocritical, comments passed by some members of the NDC that the NPP flag bearer is anti Islam for delivering a public lecture on a Mulsim day of celebration.

The NPP flag bearer Nana Akufo Addo has come under heavy criticism for his address last Wednesday August 31 which happened to be a Public Holiday and a day marking the Islamic Eidul Fetir Celebration.

Mr. Ken Koranche who was re-acting to the issue after it had been raised by Deputy Energy Minister Inusah Fuseini on Citi Fm’s Current Affairs Program, “The Big Issue” stated that there was nothing wrong with the choice of the day because even the National Chief Imam was ably represented at the function.

He said “I am saying that I have heard people not only on this network (Citi FM) but on other networks taking issue with Nana Addo for delivering the speech on that particular day because it was a Muslim Holiday and I am further saying that the Chief Imam of this country sent a representative to come and pray at the occasion and he knows more about Islamic worship than most of us do.

“In fact I would presume that he knows more about Islamic worship than Inusah Fuseini and the people who have been commenting. I think that this issue ought to be addressed because it is hypocritical. “If he decides to present it on Thursday, the market day in my hometown is on Thursday.

On any day in this country you have people who cannot listen to radio for special reasons. If he decides to do on Sunday, all Christians go to church on Sunday.

“This reasoning is spurious and as I am saying I am prepared to listen to this thing from some people but not serious people in government”.

Meanwhile, the office of the Chief Imam confirmed to Citi FM that a representative was indeed sent to the said function.

Alhaji Awaisu, who attended the function on behalf of the Chief Imam, indicated that there was nothing un-Islamic about scheduling the event on that faithful day. Alhaji Awaisu Bio intimated that “I was instructed by the Chief Imam to go and represent him because he was invited.

"The program was to come on about two weeks ago at Alisa Hotel but was postponed to the 31st.“So I went there not on my own but as a representative of the National Chief Imam.

"Whether I am NPP or NDC that does not hold, I am not doing politics, I only represent the National Chief Imam and my office does not allow me because the National Chief Imam does not do politics.

"He is the father of all political parties and as the executive secretary of the national Chief Imam I do not come out to identify myself with any party.

“I cannot say whether there is anything wrong with the day of the speech because although it is a day we were celebrating the Eid, it was not only Moslems that were expected to go there”.



Source: citifmonline.com

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