Ho (Volta Region) 25 Feb. 2000
Mr Charles Asare Director General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), has called on workers of the Trust to be prepared to work on private sector employees.
This would enable it to face competition that would emerge from the liberalisation of the pension market.
"Indeed the public are measuring our performance by private sector standards even though we are a public trust."
Mr. Adjei was addressing the opening session of the second quadrennial delegates conference of the SSNIT Senior Staff Association at Ho on Thursday.
The conference is under the theme: "Challenges in pension administration in the millennium".
The Director General said a marketing unit would be established for an effective co-ordination with the public relations unit.
A customer service unit will also be established to co-ordinate public enquiries and complaints.
Mr Adjei charged each employee to take the initiative to market SSNIT to the public and individuals to enable them to appreciate the benefits of the scheme.
He said much as the social security law is important in the operations of the Trust, it is not advisable to over-rely on it at the expense of innovations.
Mr Adjei said the times demanded new strategies to provide the highest satisfaction for stakeholders with greater efficiency.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 25 Feb. 2000
African countries have been urged to adopt diversification and export development policies as the key to attracting increased foreign investment.
Trade and Industry minister, Dan Abodakpi who said this will lead to higher economic growth rate, made the call at the opening of the Ghana International Trade fair 2000 dubbed the "Millennium Fair."
A total of 550 local and 285 foreign exhibitors from 35 countries are participating in the 12-day fair, organised by the Ghana Trade Fair Company (GTFC) under the theme "gateway to Africa, into the 21st Century."
Brazil, Russia and Trinidad and Tobago are making their debut. Mr Abodakpi noted with regret that due to over-dependence on the export of raw materials, Africa's share of foreign direct investment is five per cent while those of Asia and Latin America are 51 per cent and 43 per cent respectively."
Mr Abodakpi said this indicates clearly that African countries are being by-passed by the evolving integrated world economy.
"Globalisation has increased prosperity and continues to present opportunities and potentials to countries, but the most vulnerable African countries are severely challenged and are being marginalised."
The Minister noted that the free market policy adopted by some African countries, manifested in the free-zones and gateway initiatives, indicates that diversification creates avenues for high investment capital flow from developing countries.
He therefore urged the exhibitors to explore new areas of collaboration in manufacturing and services with the view to increasing Africa's share of international investment capital.
Mr Kwame Ofori Amanfo, acting chief executive of GTFA, in his welcoming address said a total of 13,840 square metres of indoor space and 6,000 square metres of outdoor space are being utilised.
He said exhibits on display would be mainly agricultural, agro-industry, light and heavy industrial machinery, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics and educational materials.
Mr Amanfo said a total of 12 fairs would be held this year, an average of one a month.
This, he said, is an indication that the Ghana Trade Fair Authority is gaining its image on the international scene.
"Various enquiries we have received and are still receiving from all over the world give us the hope that the Ghanaian economy is responding positively to the pragmatic policies of the government, and that the entire foreign business community is showing growing confidence in the economy."
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Accra (Greater Accra) 25 Feb. 2000
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called on parliament to reject the proposed increase in the rate of the Value Added Tax (VAT).
The TUC also urged parliament to ask the government to ensure that a considerable number of income earners outside the tax net are brought in to ease the burden on workers who are incapable of containing any further tax increase.
This is contained in a submission to Parliament on the TUC's comments on the Budget statement for the 2000 financial year, which was copied to the media.
"In other words, we are suggesting that the inefficiencies in the collection of taxes should be reduced if not completely eliminated".
It said the government would demonstrate its commitment to the alleviation of poverty by reducing the tax on the people.
The labour body called on civil society organisations to join in protecting the interest of the ordinary people by resisting the proposed increase in the VAT rate.
The TUC noted that it was concerned about the continued instability of the Cedi and the raising of the interest rate.
"We are expecting the government's economic policy statement for 2000 to grant more autonomy to the Bank of Ghana to enable it deal with the unstable macroeconomic situation on a more sustainable basis".
The TUC said in the 1999 budget statement to parliament, the government promised but failed to place before the house the new Bank of Ghana Bill that was going to strengthen the independence of the central bank.
It therefore appealed to parliament to revisit the issue in its deliberation on the 2000 economic policy statement.
The TUC said even though it lauds government support for the private sector through the buy-made-in-Ghana goods campaign, it believes that what is crucial for growth is a stable macroeconomic environment with low inflation and interest rate, a stable currency and lower corporate taxes.
"There must also be a degree of protection for our local industries.
"These can be achieved if government sets its priorities right, controls its expenditure by reducing or eliminating waste and corruption and reduce competition with the private sector in the credit market".
The TUC asked government to stop paying lip service to the development of agriculture, saying the withdrawal of subsidies has crippled the effort of poor farmers whose untiring efforts have sustained the economy over the years.
It asked the government to review the 10.3 million dollars allocated to irrigation schemes throughout the country since it is "ridiculously low".
The TUC further asked the government to pay more attention to the Agricultural Services Sector Investment Project as announced in this year's budget.
After several years of implementation of economic reforms, the TUC was expecting a budget statement that would create the macroeconomic environment that is conducive for the rapid growth of the private sector which will in turn create the environment for rapid socio-economic development.
"We regret to state that we do not find many of such policies in this year's government economic policy statement".
It however, said it found some positive developments in the review of the economic performance last year and the policy initiatives planned for the medium term 2000 to 2002.
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