Government mobilises funds to pay its equity in WAGP

Accra, Nov. 8, GNA - Government has mobilised resources to pay its equity in the West African Gas Pipeline Project for work to commence soon.

President John Agyekum Kufuor, who announced this, said the Government's equity was 90 million dollars.

He was launching the 44-page New Patriotic Party (NPP) Manifesto for Election 2004 in Accra.

President Kufuor said the cornerstone of the Manifesto, which was a follow-up of the 2000 Manifesto of Positive Change, would be hinged on three main areas.

These were human resources development, private sector development and continued adherence to the tenets of good governance for its second term in office from January 2005.

The past four years saw the Government setting its agenda in five priority areas, these were vigorous infrastructure development, enhanced social services, principally in education and health-care delivery, modernised agriculture based on improved rural development, private sector development and good governance.

President Kufuor said positive change during the first four years of its term was to transform decades of economic instability and authoritarian rule into a new period of economic stability and genuine constitutional governance for the good of Ghanaians.

"It was also to lay a solid foundation and generate an enabling atmosphere to undo the harm done in the many years of seemingly irreversible economic stagnation and social despondency.

"This in our estimation has always been to engender a new spirit of hope, energise Ghanaians to work productively for themselves and promote prosperity for the nation", he said.

President Kufuor said the challenge facing the Government was to launch a concept of Ghana Incorporated to fuel and efficiently co-ordinate the productive efforts of all stakeholders within the economy for the attainment of the objective of accelerated growth.

He said to the NPP coming to power was not an opportunity for self-aggrandisement but it was a duty to serve the nation and the God that brought them to power would not disappoint them.

President Kufuor said what opponents of the Government failed to realise was that it was not by chance or a mere opportunity but they had been in the wilderness for the past 40 years being prepared by destiny to assume the leadership destined for the African.

"I am asking you to trust us again and give us your mandate. Judge us by our performance and vote us back into government to implement "Positive Change Chapter Two. We are committed to make our great nation even greater", he said.

Mr Haruna Esseku, National Chairman of the Party, said the Government had been transparent, accountable and offered good governance to the people and should, therefore, be given the chance for another term.