Let's Tell Our Success Story - Asamoah-Boateng

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, says the time has come for the government to tell its success story.

He said in spite of its great achievements over the past seven years, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has been unable to let Ghanaians know about its achievements.

Speaking to the media last Tuesday, Mr Asamoah-Boateng said the ministry would no more allow people to throw dust into the eyes of Ghanaians but rather they will propagate the achievements of the NPP government for all to see.

'We are going to tell our own story, the good news must reach everyone,' he said, adding 'henceforth the government will be setting the agenda right'.

He said, since 2001 when the NPP government took over from the previous administration, there had been tremendous improvement in road infrastructure, minimum wage and improved agricultural sector.

For instance, he said the cocoa sector recorded 740,000 tonnes in the 2005/2006 cocoa season, being the highest production in the history of the country.

Mr Asamoah-Boateng said even though production fell from 630,000 tonnes in the 2006/2007 season 'this is still higher than the production levels achieved through 1981 to 2001'.

He said the government had stepped up investments in extension services, disease control, agricultural mechanisation, agricultural credit, out board motors, fishing nets and many other incentives to boost the sector to ensure food security.

Touching on the improved public sector wages, the minister said 'the gross monthly salary of a newly qualified teacher has increased from GH¢26.45 in 2001 to GH¢194.08 in 2008'.

He said the government had been able to correct the macroeconomic mess into which the economy of Ghana was plunged before it took power, saying 'by the close of December 2000, our total public debt to GDP ratio had hit 189 per cent but by the same period in December 2007, our public debt to GDP had reduced to 48 per cent'.

The minister also commended the Bank of Ghana’s successful redenomination exercise.