Government Expresses Appreciation To All Ghanaians - Minister

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Minister for Information and National Orientation, Hon Stephen Asamoh Boateng (left) briefing the press The Minister for Information and National Orientation, Hon Stephen Asamoh Boateng, (MP), has expressed appreciation to all stakeholders involved in the implementation of measures announced by the President, John Agyekum Kufuor, two weeks ago to mitigate the effects of high crude oil price and global food price hikes on Ghanaians.

According to him, government is thankful to all Ghanaians for the efforts and the collective responsibility exhibited by Ghanaians to overcome the difficult period, adding that 'this show of togetherness is more remarkable when in other parts of the world we see and hear of protests, strikes and in some cases rioting'

The Minister made this known at the 'meet the press series' yesterday in Accra.

Hon Stephen Asamoh Boateng, disclosed that as parts of effort to ensure enough food for consumption and earn substantial revenue from food exports, government has released GH¢11m to go towards providing subsidy on fertilizers to all farmers, given free seeds to Local farmers cultivating the New Rice for Africa which cost 50GHp per kilo as well as Small-scale rice mills local rice grower and a GH¢6 of agro-chemicals per acre to every farmer.

The Minister added that government has also procured into the country 400 new tractors with additional 830 yet to come of which 500 are on the high seas, each at a cost of GH 24,000 with government absorbing GH 8,000 as subsidy and the remaining GH 16,000 repaid in flexible terms with 50% down payment and the remainder paid over a 3-year period with no interest.

He pointed out that an advantage could be taken on the rising food prices on the world market to produce more for export as the world demand for natural food increases and as consumers shift from genetically modified foods. Citing that a US$30 million order has been received by Ghanaian local producers at the 2008 Food Fair for Marketing Fresh Produce in Berlin, Germany as a reason.

He stated that government is aware, of some few pockets of people who are yet to pass on the benefits to their compatriots and 'appealed to all such individuals to comply with the new measures.'

The Minister observed that with the co-operation so far shown on all sides, prices would be reduced as soon as the parliamentary processes are complete and will be immediate.

He also disclosed that the second round of cash transfer to beneficiaries under the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty Programme (LEAP) is currently under way in 21 districts throughout the ten regions of Ghana adding that even though the districts are twenty one as was the case during the first round of cash transfer in March this year, the number of beneficiaries has increased from 2,000 in March to 3,200 in June.

Hon Stephen Asamoh Boateng, reiterated that 'the government has been very proactive to take pragmatic and far-sighted decisions that have sustained us to today' and assured that the School Feeding programme, Capitation Grant, the National Health Insurance Scheme, the Metro Mass Transport, the National Youth Employment Programme, the Micro-Finance and Small Loan Scheme (MASLOC) and the Free Maternity Care will all receive adequate attention.

He also stated that the successes achieved over the years, are due to the resilient nature of our economy that has seen the economy expand from a nominal size of US$3.9 billion when the government took over in 2001 to the current nominal size of over US$14 billion and 'urged all Ghanaians to be discerning listeners and compare achievements of governments.
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