President John Agyekum Kufuor said on Thursday that his administration has inherited an economic legacy which is ‘daunting’ but called on all Ghanaians to be prepared to embrace hard decisions which would put the country on the road to progress, reports the Daily Graphic.

In a 50-minute maiden State of the Nation address to the 200-member Parliament, President Kufuor said the country’s domestic and external debt stood at 41 trillion cedis at the end of December 2000 with 31.7 trillion cedis as external and a domestic component of 9.4 trillion cedis.

He was not happy “that institutions that should have acted as watchdogs or confronted the problems of inefficiency and corruption as they arose failed catastrophically.”

Amidst intermittent shouts of ‘Asie ho, Asie ho’ the slogan for the NPP, President Kufuor indicated that his government would re-establish or strengthen various institutions, which would ensure that expenditure is made transparent and well-managed.

He cited mismanagement, mass unemployment, low wages, high cost of living and a rapidly depreciating currency, cowed and demoralised private sector, hopelessness and despair part of the legacy the administration has inherited.

He submitted that the government was aware that the expectations of the people are high and justifiably so, and promised that that “Good governance would never be sacrificed on the altar of political expediency otherwise it would undermine the people’s support for democratic governance.”

More…/

Govt to reintroduce mass transport system

President Kufuor is quoted by Graphic as saying in his State of the Nation address on Thursday that the government will reintroduce the urban bus and other mass transport systems, which help to economise on the nation’s use of imported petroleum.

He said the new policy will form part of the government’s answer to mitigating the impact of the rising petroleum bills on family budget of the working population.

President Kufuor made it clear that one of the major economic problems, which the government must urgently address now is the pricing of petroleum products.

He said the problem should have been dealt with by the previous government, which for reason of political expediency, chose not to do so.

Mr Kufuor pointed out that the options open to the nation are either to continue what it has been doing, and then grind to a halt, or “we bite the bullet and charge realistic prices for petroleum products. We will now tackle this problem head on.”

The President therefore, gave the assurance that the government will take appropriate action to move towards full cost recovery and implement a plan to reduce the stock of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) debt over time.

More…/

Sessional address empty - Bagbin

The Minority Leader of Parliament, Mr Alban S.K. Bagbin, has described the President's Sessional address as "a complete emptiness and a collection of many words meaning nothing".

He said the address did not tell Ghanaians the policies that the new government intends to implement to bring about that positive change President J.A. Kufuor talked about.

"In all the areas, His Excellency the President failed to state a goal or objective of the government for the year," he stressed.

Mr Bagbin, reacting to Thursday's Sessional Address said being the State-of-the Nation Report it should, therefore, include the present state of affairs, diagnose the ailments, if any, and prescribe the requisite solutions.

"So one would expect that in the address, the President would tell us the policies they intend to initiate in the year to address the problems that we are facing. This he also failed to do," he said.

GRi…/

Send your comments to news@ghanareview.com

Return to top

The Ghanaian Times

Reconciliation C’ttee planned

'The Ghanaian Times' says President, Mr J.A. Kufuor on Thursday announced that a National Reconciliation Committee would be established to provide a forum where those aggrieved could have the opportunity to air their grievances in order to promote the goal of national reconciliation.

Delivering his maiden Sessional Address to Parliament, he said that the government would thus accelerate the process of restoring confiscated assets to their owners.

“It is time to bring this whole sorry chapter of confiscation to an end. I have instructed the attorney-General to bring quickly for consideration by the cabinet and myself, guidelines for rapid deconfiscation of assets,” he said.

The President reiterated that the government was committed to national unity because there was the need to move forward as a united people.

He said that does not however mean that we should forget about the many abuses that have taken place, and we should not give the impression of endorsing a culture of impunity.

Mr Kufuor said that whether the government succeeded or failed depended on the people believing that their government was fair and behaved in an even-handed manner.

He stressed that all citizens were entitled to a fair share in the economic opportunities that opened up in the country adding that it was imperative that the rule of law become the guiding principle in all the country’s dealings.

Mr Kufuor stated that those who had been wronged needed to be acknowledged and where it was beyond human capability to reversed those wrongs, such as in the loss of dear ones, the least we can do is to publicly apologise and help in whatever way we can, with their rehabilitation.

More…/

Govt will ensure security for all

The government will ensure adequate security for all in a free and democratic society, according to a story on President Kufuor's State of the Nation's Address, appearing in the Times.

Towards that end, the police, charged with upholding law and order, would be strengthened to protect the ordinary citizen and bring wrongdoers to book.

President John Agyekum Kufuor who said these in his State of the Nation Address, stated that the government’s concern about improving the capability of the Police Service extended to all agencies of the security services.

He said the goal was to build security services that were professional, well-trained, well-equipped, politically neutral and capable of protecting citizens of a free society and above all, loyal to the state.

“Our Armed Forces will also receive urgent attention. We will rehabilitate their barracks which have been neglected over a very long period of time,” he said, adding that work on that project would start this year.

Regarding security measures, President Kufuor said that the police had stepped up their patrols in the cities, thus bringing crime and armed robberies under greater control.

He said that in the past 20 years, police numbers had been allowed to sink to dangerous levels while their training had not been equal to the needs of a democracy.

The service would, therefore, be empowered to enable the personnel discharge their duties to a free society adding that the government shall not hesitate to seek foreign assistance, as has been done in the determination to unmask the authors of the dastardly serial killings that have plagued our woman folk these last few years.

GRi…/

Send your comments to news@ghanareview.com

Return to top

The Evening News

‘No more looting and plunder’

"The public service is not a venue for plunder and loot," says President J.A. Kufuor in a front-page capture of the Evening News.

The service, he said is a noble calling and all those holding official position within it must submit themselves to probity and accountability.

In a State of the Nation Address, he said his government intends to promulgate a code of conduct by which all members of executive branch of government would have to abide.

The President said as he had already indicated, “I shall lead by example and ensure that the Code is strictly implemented to the letter”.

This, he said would give “our people and the international community, the added confidence in our ability to turn the country around with honour and decency”.

President Kufuor noted that in the past those in positions of authority had sought to use fear as an instrument of power.

He said the very seat of government, the Castle, conjures images of oppression and fear in the minds of the people.

“My government intends to remove fear from our politics and demystify the business of government, making public officials, servants of the public, instead of the demi-gods, they more often than not, pretended to be,” he said.

GRi…/

Send your comments to news@ghanareview.com

Return to top

The Weekend Statesman

No more cash and carry

The Weekend Statesman reporting on the State of the Nation Address by President J.A. Kufuor quotes him as saying his government is feverishly working towards abolishing cash and carry system to be replaced with a health insurance scheme.

“In the next few months, government will establish modalities for the determination of a smooth transition from the cash and carry system to an alternative health insurance scheme,” he stated.

He said the nation has serious problems with the human resources in the health sector and gave the assurance that the motivation and retention of health personnel will be a major priority of the government.

The President announced the establishment of the Ghana Postgraduate Medical College while specialised training programmes for nurses and allied health personnel would be vigorously pursued.

He described the HIV/AIDS situation in the country as very serious and threatening to assume epidemic proportions. “It is not too late to act, but we must face up to the realities of the situation and not shy away because of various sensibilities,” he said.

GRi…/

Send your comments to news@ghanareview.com

Return to top

The Dispatch

NDC officials dare Achimota School on lands

There are credible indications that the desire of well-meaning members of the Old Achimotans Association (OAA) to ensure that top officials of the former NDC government give up some Achimota School lands illegally leased to them will be met with stiff resistance, according to 'The Dispatch'.

The resistance, it said, will not only come from these officials who are in the majority but others, who are either businessmen, OAA members or in the NPP administration.

One of the basis that the beneficiaries intend to use against the school is that although the school has the Certificate of title, it does not have the legal authority to dispose of the lands.

A search at the Lands Department revealed that they “form part of the land acquired by the government under Certificate of Title dated December 16, 1921 under Cap 114, for Achimota College.”

A member of the School’s Board of Directors, asked by the paper to comment, said they were warned by the ex-government to keep quiet and let the matter die quietly.

He stated also that although there is a change of government some top members of the Kufuor administration who had benefited from the school’s land.

A member of the school's board earlier this week remarked to the paper, "you (the media) should forget this Achimota School lands issue. There are far too many powerful people involved.”

GRi…/

Send your comments to news@ghanareview.com

Return to top

The Daily Guide

Criminal Libel Law to go

President J.A. Kufuor has confirmed his government's determination to repeal the Criminal Libel Law that criminalizes freedom of speech, 'The Daily Guide' reported.

Instead, he said, his government will expand the borders of freedom of expression to strengthen democracy.

President Kufuor gave this assurance during his maiden Sessional Address to Parliament on Thursday.

He underscored the role of the media in nation building and asked the media to be responsible in their role to enhance democracy and the development of the nation.

President Kufuor said his government will not accept culture of impunity neither will it endorse illegality.

“Those who break the law under the constitution would be brought to book,” he emphasized.

He stated therefore that a National Reconciliation Committee will be formed that will investigate wrong seizures of people’s assets so that the nation can restore certain confiscated assets to their original owners.

He said the Attorney-General would draw up guidelines for the government’s consideration in the area of de-confiscation of assets.

Additionally, he said, his government will rehabilitate those who were wronged by the past regime.

GRi…/

Send your comments to news@ghanareview.com

Return to top

Free Press

Cocobod, NDC hype farmers

The Free Press reports that information filtering out of Ghana Cocobod in the wake of the NDC's defeat in the recent elections has revealed that the ex-government turned Cocobod into its institutional cash fieldom, dipping their hands into the nation's cash with impunity.

Cocobod, with monopoly over the export and sale of Ghana's cocoa abroad is one of the largest foreign exchange earners for the country.

The NDC government reportedly, packed the management and board of directors with their appointees allowing them to misuse the firm's immense cash flow for their personal activities.

An issue said to be vexing the minds of the nation's cocoa farmers has been the non-payment of their bonuses, a scheme set up about ten years ago to compensate farmers for fluctuating exchanging rates at which cocoa is bought locally and what is paid abroad, for the past six years.

Informed sources hinted that the scheme's fund runs into several billions of cedis each year but for what purposes the money was put to, nobody is willing to say.

Credible sources disclosed that just after the 1996 elections the then Chief Executive of Cocobod, Flt. Lt. Atiemo admitted at the board meeting that the NDC government 'borrowed' billions of cedis from the Cocobod to finance their electioneering campaign.

"Perhaps, for opening his mouth too wide, Flt. Lt. Atiemo was kicked out and replaced him with the current Chief Executive, Mr J.H. Newman," Free Press stated.

GRi…/

Send your comments to news@ghanareview.com

Return to top

Ghana Palaver

Kufuor's All-inclusive family government

Sources close to the top hierarchy of the NPP have, according to the 'Ghana Palaver', have disclosed serious rumblings within the party over President J.A. Kufuor's formation of an "all-inclusive family Government".

"Alarm bells are also ringing in protest against the way Mr Kufuor, as part of his 'Apollo' programme, is 'shooting up' relatives to head other sensitive Government establishments."

Already a ministerial list with family connections compiled by the worried NPP leaders reveals the following:

Dr Addo Kufuor, a biological brother, Minister of Defence; Mr Baah Wiredu, nephew, Minister of local Government and Rural Development; Mr Kan Dapaah, nephew, Minister of Mines and Energy and Mr J.H. Mensah, Brother-in-law, Minister of State for Government Business and Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission.

Meanwhile, President Kufuor has Mr. D.K. Osei, another nephew, as his official Private Secretary.

The most alarming appointment, which has set tongues waging at the party's secretariat is that of Ms Janet Opoku Acheampong, the President's niece, who has been jumped over three top officials and given the position of Acting Commissioner, Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The paper recalls the hue and cry that ensued when Prof. K.A. Busia formed a company, Yefre Industries, and gave it to his brother to run, during the Second Republic, stating that traditionally, the Danquah-Busia group suffer from negative ethnic tendencies. However, the drive toward nepotism now frightens even men of that tradition.

GRi…/

Send your comments to news@ghanareview.com

Return to top

The Ghanaian Chronicle

Fuel prices will go up

The Ghanaian Chronicle says President Kufuor on Thursday told the nation without mincing words that fuel prices will definitely go up, lamenting that the previous Government failed to deal with the problem of petrol pricing on grounds of political expediency.

"With the opposition NDC joining the NPP in a fair amount of cheerful bonhomie, Kufuor preferred the option of biting the bullet by tackling the problem head on by charging realistic prices for petroleum products."

He said that the other option would be to continue to add to the accumulated debt by deferring the payment of 160 billion cedis a month cost of petroleum subsidy until the country grinds to a complete halt.

JAK said that he will move towards full cost recovery and implement a plan to reduce the stock of the Tema Oil Refinery's (TOR) debt over time.

"The implication of this as previously explained by the Energy minister Hon Kan Dapaah is that prices of petroleum would go up," Chronicle said.

GRi…/

Send your comments to news@ghanareview.com

Return to top