Political parties have started announcing their policies in order to win the hearts of electorates.
John Dramani Mahama is the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress NDC, which is the larget opposition party heading into the 2024 general election.
Focused word: Policy... a principle thought to be desirable or necessary, (especially as formally expressed by a government or other authoritative body).
We bring you sixty 60 key policies announced by H.E John Dramani Mahama Flag-bearer of the NDC, as part of his vision for Ghana, 2024 and beyond.
1.Implement a 24-hour economy strategy with three (3) shifts of eight (8) hours each to; maximize productivity and efficiency; transform Ghana into an import substitution and export-led economy; enhance access to public services and create more well-paying jobs for unemployed Ghanaians.
2. Stop the economic decline and restore stability and inclusive growth to the economy.
3. Reform the Bank of Ghana and rejuvenate the almost collapsed banking and financial sector.
• We will also give opportunity for experienced banking hands who were laid off, to secure their careers once more and move from the menial jobs they were forced into.
• As far as practicable, banking licenses that were unjustly cancelled by this Government will be restored.
4. Prioritize local participation in the banking, financial, telecommunications, mining, oil and gas, agriculture, manufacturing, and construction sectors to generate more jobs for the youth.
5. Actively attract viable and serious private sector investors to partner government to invest in productive sectors for job creation.
• This will involve an emphasis on agriculture and agribusiness and will have a strong focus on making Ghanaians own their own micro enterprises.
6. Lead a process to set a standardized limit for borrowing and ensure that Ghana never suffers such a deadly debt management programme that threatens to send elderly people holding government bonds to their early graves and wipe out the investments of the Ghanaian middle class.
7. Complete abandoned and ongoing projects instead of rushing to start new ones.
• We will carry out an inventory of all hospitals, schools, electrification, water, and road projects which have stalled or been abandoned and make annual budgetary allocation for completing them.
8. Establish a Governance Advisory Council to help improve political governance, curb corruption, and ensure respect for human rights.
• The Council will include representatives of Civil Society Organizations, religious leaders, traditional leaders, and ordinary Ghanaians, among others. They will be empowered to release a State of Governance in Ghana report every year.
9. Run the leanest but most efficient government under the fourth republic by appointing not more than 60 ministers and deputy ministers in our bid to cut down on government expenditure.
• We shall combine certain Ministries and eliminate government agencies that are duplicating each other.
10. Abolish the payment of ex-gratia and cut out waste and ostentation in government.
11. Work with Parliament and all stakeholders to complete the constitution review process and strengthen separation of powers.
12. Government procurement is recognized as a major source of corruption and misappropriation of public funds. We will among other measures, set up an Independent Value for Money office to scrutinize all government procurements above a $5 million threshold or as shall be recommended by Parliament.
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19. We will seek to make Ghana benefit more from its finite natural resources and encourage indigenous Ghanaian businesses that have the technology and capacity to operate their own productive mining concessions by themselves or in partnership.
• Also, we will resource the geological survey department and review the laws governing the extractive industry so that Ghana can increase its share and local participation in the exploitation of the nation's natural resources.
20. From January 2025, the next NDC administration will transform the economy, diversify our exports, and ensure value addition to create more jobs.
• We will add value to our cocoa by increasing domestic processing, refining our gold before export, and pursuing the dream of an integrated bauxite and alumina industry.
• VALCO, TOR and other strategic industries that can serve as extra pillars for our economy will be brought on stream.
21. Building a modernized agricultural economy driven by technology and digitalization and the establishment of agribusiness shall be one of the key anchors of our economic transformation plan;
. We will launch a programme akin to the "Operation Feed Yourself and Industries" of the early 70's to make Ghana self-sufficient in basic staples and curb unnecessary imports;
• We shall also establish and deploy farmers' service centers nationwide in all districts to boost production and output.
• We shall revive the concept of school farms so that the produce from the farms will be used to feed the students.
By introducing well established farmer cooperatives, advanced farming techniques, embracing digital tools and promoting agribusinesses, we shall create opportunities for farmers, improve food security and bolster economic growth.
Find below is policy number 22 to 60 as promised by the National Democratic Congress NDC ahead of the 2024 general elections
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Report: BBN NEWS