NDC will initiate Anti-Harassment and Safeguarding Framework – Mahama

The next government formed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will review and harmonize laws on sexual harassment to strengthen legal protection and enforcement mechanisms for victims, John Dramani Mahama, NDC 2024 Presidential Candidate has asserted.

He noted that the next NDC government will also develop and adopt a National Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy for Ghana to provide comprehensive guidelines for identifying, reporting, and addressing incidents of sexual harassment.

He said as a social democratic, the NDC thinks about policies and programmes to protect and defend the underprivileged. He added that NDC will initiate a National School-Related Gender-Based Safety Programme to prevent and address gender-based violence and provide comprehensive support and protection for all pupils, students, and all those working in the school environment.

“We will implement a robust referral system to provide at-risk individuals and victims with access to domestic and GBV support services, including social welfare and legal aid.

“We will partner with religious, traditional, and community organizations to embark on community education on gender-based violence and harmful cultural practices and develop safeguards and other essential services for survivors, including shelter, counseling, and social support," the NDC Presidential Candidate, who occupies the 8th position on the presidential ballot paper, stated in the party’s 2024 manifesto, captioned “Resetting Ghana: Jobs, Accountability, and Prosperity,” stated on the subtheme “investing in people for inclusive growth.”

Former President Mahama said based on his past experience as an Assemblyman, Member of Parliament, Minister of State, Vice President, and later as President of Ghana, has shaped his understanding of the problems facing Ghanaians.

On protection and welfare for vulnerable groups, former President Mahama said the next NDC government will develop a legislative instrument and implementation protocols for the protection of individuals accused of witchcraft and other harmful traditional practices.

“We will transform alleged witch camps into community-owned wellness centers offering comprehensive geriatric care and social support and work with traditional authorities, the youth, and civil society organizations to intensify public education on anti-witchcraft practices and law.

“We will establish menstrual Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in schools and provide free sanitary pads for female students in basic and secondary schools and ensure access to menstrual hygiene products, especially sanitary pads for adolescent girls, especially in rural and inner-cities,” the NDC Presidential Candidate stated.

Mr. Mahama added that if voted into power, his government will provide incentives and encourage investment in local production of medical equipment such as thermometers, BP apparatuses, hospital beds, and drip stands.

“My government will establish Central Bed and Emergencies Management Bureaus in all three geographical belts (Southern, Middle, and Northern) to respond to health emergency needs and address referral challenges such as 'no-bed syndrome.

“We will enact a law to govern biomedical transplantation such as kidney transplants to protect the rights of patients, ensure affordability, and ensure local provision of such services.

“We will develop a centralized health information management system to share patient data across hospitals in compliance with the Data Protection Act and license and regulate the private sector to build and operate facilities for home care, chronically ill persons, and end-of-life care services.

“My next government will scale up the telehealth and existing telemedicine projects, including teleconsultation and tele-education to all regions to better connect patients at all levels to health advisory consultation services for timely and effective referrals.

“We will establish a Patient (Client) Protection Council (PPC) that regulates standards and norms for health service delivery and research to protect patients' and practitioners' rights.

“We will support the formation of a Medical Laboratory Council to promote the welfare and professional development of practitioners,” he stated and called for a massive vote to enable him to form the next government in 2025 to implement the laudable policies to reset Ghana once again.

The next government formed under the presidency of Mr. John Dramani Mahama as President and Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as Vice President will support the local production of laboratory diagnostics.

“We will establish a National Laboratory Proficiency Testing Centre, establish one zonal public laboratory in the Volta region, and upgrade the four existing zonal laboratories.

“We will upgrade selected district, regional, and other certified private hospitals to specialist teaching institutions to enhance the clinical training of health professionals and establish a College of Allied Health Sciences as a post-graduate professional institute to promote specialist training and continuous professional development for allied health workers.

“We will set up a Council for Allied Health Sciences and initiate plans to set up a School of Biomedical Sciences and Postgraduate Biomedical Research Institute to provide full professional development programmes for all the healthcare areas,” the NDC 2024 Presidential Candidate stated.

On the Pharmaceutical Sector Development, former President Mahama said the next NDC government will collaborate with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana to implement the Ghana Pharmaceutical Sector Strategic Plan.

His next government will also initiate the establishment of a National Bio-Equivalence Centre and a Pharmaceutical Research Institute and provide support to local pharmaceutical companies to expand the production of pharmaceuticals, including essential medicines and vaccines, as part of the 24-hour economy initiatives to reduce dependence on imports.

“We will promote the integration of pharmaceutical manufacturing programmes into relevant tertiary education curricula and provide support to local pharmaceutical companies as was initiated in 2015 to expand the production of pharmaceuticals, including vaccines, within the 24-hour economy programme.

“We will support the Pharmaceuticals Society of Ghana with incentives to make Ghana a Pharma Hub in Africa,” he stated and called on the electorates to vote for him massively and all NDC Parliamentary Candidates to form the next government to implement the policies to reduce the unnecessary burden imposed on Ghanaians by the current government.