The 24hrs Economic Policy Is A Catalyst To Address Ghana’s Economic Challenges — John Dramani Mahama

According to the Presidential Candidate of the major opposition political party in Ghana and Former President, John Dramani Mahama, Ghana’s economic fortunes and gains have been ruined under the government of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) led by President Nana Akuffo Addo and Dr. Mahmoud Bawumia. For which reason, it will only take the 24hrs Economic Policy his Party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to address the economic abyss, hardship and mismanagement which the ruling NPP government have subjected Ghanaians to.

Speaking to the Press and Ghanaian media at the Kempiski Hotel in the capital Accra on Sunday, 7^th July, 2024, to outline his vision for Ghana when re-elected as President, he reiterated his commitment to ensure that policies under the 24hrs economy would increase local production of goods and services that will lessen imports and create decent jobs for the youth through social development policy frameworks that would have direct impact on the livelihood of all citizens especially the youth, alleviate rising poverty among citizens and ensure economic prosperity for all. He said economic mismanagement, social repression, incompetent governance, selfishness, arrogance coupled with impunity and institutionalized corruption under the NPP government has stifled political, social and economic development of Ghana since the government has lost touch with the needs of the Ghanaian people and therefore, the need for a paradigm shift in governance and leadership to address these canker for which reason call on Ghanaians to vote for change in government through the upcoming December 7^th general elections which he is optimistic that his party, the NDC will win to turn the ailing economy around.

The former President and Presidential Candidate for the NDC in the upcoming general elections John Mahama, believes that his experience on the job as former President and his visionary leadership would ensure massive infrastructural development continuing from where he left off, build a resilient economy through massive industrialization, mechanized agriculture, Entrepreneurship development, job creation and ensure micro economic stability through the 24hrs economic policy. Further, he said his government will ensure social justice and equity, gender equality and inclusivity and ensure that the Affirmative Action Bill is passed by Parliament when elected as President. John Mahama also promised the establishment of National Women Development Bank that will be run by women to provide business support to over 1 million women across the country to own businesses and improve their sustainable livelihood development. He promised to revive and revolutionized the Education sector by reviewing the Free Senior High School Policy and makes it better to meet the standards it requires. Touching on the Free SHS Policy, he debunked the assertion that his government will cancel the policy when elected into government. He said he was the pioneer of the Free SHS Policy which his government implemented progressively through the Free Day Secondary school pilot program in 2016 with the hope of extending it boarding in the shortest possible time and not too long, his party lost power to the NPP. So, how could he cancel a policy his government implemented progressively when re-elected, he questioned? According to him it was the NDC government under his watch that implemented the Free SHS Educational Policy and not the NPP government. He assured that the Free SHS Policy which his government implemented has come to stay and the next NDC government under his watch will not cancel the policy but rather make it a better policy by creating a Trust Fund aside the Ghana Education Trust (GET Fund) to provide financial muscle to support and sustain the policy. He also assured that his government will uncap the GET Fund which is capped at 60% threshold and has been collateralized by this ruling government by ensuring 100% access to the GET Fund by the Ministry of Education to meet the educational needs of the Ghana Education Service to drive the free SHS Policy to its utmost best.

The former President and Presidential candidate for the NDC also promised to run a government of national unity and cohesion irrespective ethnic background by addressing political polarity that has undermined national unity among citizens and will ensure that the youth would be the catalyst for change to build the Ghana we all want. He said that through the 24hrs economy his government will create decent jobs for the youth as means to an end for accelerated growth and development by ensuring manufacturing sector development to bridge the unemployment gap where goods and services will be affordable and easily accessible on the markets. So, the 24hrs economy will maximize local production to replace imports with home grown production of goods and services. To accomplish this, Business incentives will be provided to Companies that are willing to run a 24hrs shift system to create more jobs and boost exports of manufactured goods from Ghana. This will create jobs in the security services since the government will provide 24hrs security services for all businesses that will subscribe to the 24hrs economic policy. He guaranteed that he will personally Chair a National Accelerated Export Promotion Program to ensure that Ghanaian goods reaches the foreign markets to generate revenue for both the state and manufacturing companies. He said the 24hrs economic policy is a national pride which Ghanaians must embrace because it will attract business development and liberate Ghana for economic independence.

On the depreciation of the Ghana currency, he assured that if all the economic policies under the 24hrs economy are fully implemented, the Ghana Cedi will gain its value to address the currency depreciation. He also promised to restore confidence in the economy by reducing the size of government to avert frivolous expenditure by the executive that will address budget deficit and also the depreciation of the Cedi through fiscal discipline and consolidation. He also promised to revamp the Cocoa sector which is fast deteriorating under the NPP government through the syndicated loan policy which has been abused under the government. He further promised to provide the needed incentives for cocoa farmers to boost cocoa production in Ghana and make sure farmer gets value for money. He also promised to revamp the energy sector by reviving the operations of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) which is collapsed under the current NPP government to refine oil in Ghana to leverage for increasing fuel prices that will also stabilize Cedi currency. He will also through Public Private Partnership Agreement program get private investors to invest in the energy sector especially TOR to expand its operations and create more jobs for the Ghanaian people.

On the issue of Corruption, John Mahama promised to fight institutionalized and unbridled corruption that has crippled the Ghanaian economy under the NPP government with full commitment and desire irrespective of partisan affiliation. According to John Mahama, if there is any leader who has fought corruption as compared to the current NPP government, then it should be him and not the NPP government under Nana Akuffo who has failed to prosecute corruption related offenses by his appointee. This is because during his tenure of office as President, he investigated his own appointee and friend Mr. Abuga Pele who was later jailed for causing financial loss to the state so, although it was a sad event, he needed to allow for that prosecution in the spirit of law and will of Ghanaians to deter other public officials from causing financial loss to the state. He also promised to ensure transparency in public procurement processes and eliminate government related procurement corruption through accountability and independent procurement processes.

On Agriculture, He said Mechanized Agriculture and Agribusiness will be the backbone of the Ghanaian economy for economic growth. He said agriculture is a lucrative business and not poor venture so, through Exim Bank initiatives, he will grow the agribusiness economy. He will make sure that farmers are given the needed incentives to grow nutritious food and ensure food security for all Ghanaians. Under his watch, a Special Agro Industrial Unit will be established to promote agribusiness and ensure food affordability. He also promised that his government will inspire farmers by creating opportunities for farmers through Farmer’s Cooperative initiatives by providing adequate funding to farmers to have access to tools and mechanization that will boost their farming activities and maximize agribusiness. Further, he said when elected into office, he will re-establish the “Operation Feed Yourself” Agricultural policy of the then Gen. Acheampong government in the mid-1970s.

On Digitalization, he said his government will close the digital gap by investing about 3billion dollars in ICT and partner with local technology startups and businesses to lunch a digital jobs initiative that will create about 300, 000 skilled jobs opportunities for the youth in the digital space. He assured that his government will take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA) Digital Trade Protocols Which Ghana is a signatory to train the youth in ICT in digital coding that will enhance digital trading of goods and services including agricultural products within Ghana and beyond especially the African continent to reduce trade restrictions. According to John Mahama, If this is accomplished, it will create about 1 million jobs for the youth who venture into ICT. The digital trade protocols will also enhance industrial revolution that will grow the local economy and ensure economic prosperity for all.

On Sports development the former President said when elected, his government will develop sports infrastructure and improve on existing ones to promote and development sporting activities across the country as well as improve our football pitches which are in bad state to meet international standards. He also promised that his government will augment the salary of premier division football players to address mass exodus of football players to other countries for greener pastures. Full details of its implementation are captured in the 2024 manifesto which will be launched soon. Throwing lights on Tourism, he promised that his government when elected into office will develop the creative arts industry by refurbishing all creative arts centres across the country and also revive the Pan African Festival and initiate a Ghanaian in the Diaspora Month to promote Ghanaian culture across the diaspora. His government will also support the aged artist to provide a decent life for them before their passing.

On Media and Press Freedom, The NDC Presidential Candidate John Mahama also promised to ensure press freedom and ensure that the criminal libel law which has “nicodemoesly” found its way back into the Ghanaian 4^th estate under the NPP government which outlawed it under the current president when he was the Attorney General would be totally be eliminated because it has threaten the safety of journalist and press freedom. He cited instances where some journalists have to flee the country for the safety of their lives because of the abuse of press freedom by the current NPP government. In the light of this, he will ensure the safety of journalist as enshrined in article 12 of the constitution. He also promised to champion the review of media laws that threatens media work and safety of journalist since he himself is a journalist of good standing under the Ghana Journalist Association. He also promised to establish media development fund to address low remuneration of media personnel and capacity building programs for the 4^th estate.

About the Galamsey (Illegal mining) Mantra that has destroyed the forest reserves and water bodies extensively, John Mahama promised to ensure the enforcement and compliance of existing laws on environmental protection. He assured that he will decentralized the operations of agencies such Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Minerals Commission by establishing district offices in all mining communities to ensure the enforcement and compliance of Mining Laws within the districts. He promised to ban mining in all forest reserves to protect the forest. On Housing, he assured that his government will conduct a forensic audit into the building of the National Cathedral and ensure where possible, all those who are found culpable of misappropriation of public funds that was allocated for the building of the Cathedral are brought to book to face justice. He also promised to continue with the affordable housing projects which are stagnated under the current government. Finally, he reiterated his commitment to accelerate building of student hostels across all university campuses in Ghana to leverage for hostel and accommodation deficit in various campuses across Ghana.

So, the event was very successful and brought together media personalities and the Ghanaian press to interact with the former President who happens to be the Presidential Candidate for the opposition NDC Party in the upcoming December 7^th general elections to share in his vision to build the Ghana we want. It was also attended by Party stalwarts, party executives and former appointees of his government.

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