NPP LAUNCHES 2016 MANIFESTO

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Monday, October 10, 2016

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has officially launched its much anticipated manifesto towards wrestling power from the Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration on December 7 with an agenda for jobs creation to stem the ever-rising unemployment rate in the country.

The manifesto titled: “Change: An Agenda for Jobs, Creating Prosperity and Equal Opportunity for All,” according to the NPP, is going to be a game changer in the crucial election, where President John Mahama is seeking re-election.

Thousands of NPP supporters clad in the party’s paraphernalia and miniature Ghana flags, defied the early to midday downpour yesterday and inundated the Trade Fair Centre, La in Accra, for the programme, which was attended by almost every party bigwig.

About 22 civil society organizations and stakeholder groups, members of the diplomatic corps, party executives nationwide, members of parliament, former NPP government appointees, among others, were all in attendance.

In the manifesto, the problems of every sector - the economy, agriculture, trade and industry, innovation, technology and science, education, health, unemployment, youth development and sports - have been comprehensively outlined and the NPP hopes to take pragmatic steps to address every single problem identified.

The programme was designed in such a way that the first part was used to unveil the manifesto in a dome inside the Trade Fair for specially invited guests and the final part was a mammoth rally where the party’s hierarchy took turns to address a cheering crowd that continuously shouted, “Change is coming!” “The battle is the Lord’s!” “Time is up!”

The NPP used the occasion to premier a very solemn documentary that exposes the hardships in the country as a result of what it said the NDC’s incompetence.

Kufuor’s Salvo

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor, who chaired the manifesto launch, set the tone when he said the NPP under the leadership of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, was seeking the people’s mandate to “turn the dwindling fortunes of this country.”

He maintained, “We are determined and ready to come to power and transform this country as we once did when the people of Ghana gave us their mandate. We have the track record to even improve on what we did.”

The former president said that the NPP’s idea for nation-building has always been inspired by the ideals and traditions of its forefathers.

He said the Mahama-led NDC government is running Ghana aground noting, “Nowhere has poverty been alleviated by impoverishing the people. We can only fight poverty by creating wealth.”

He was optimistic that Ghanaians would select Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP and reject President Mahama and his NDC to enable it (NPP) to institute policies that would bring prosperity to all.

Head Of Policy Team

Boakye Agyarko, who is the head of the policy team of Nana Addo’s campaign, took time to explain to the gathering what is contained in the manifesto and the solutions offered observing, “We owe Ghana a duty to change this corrupt government; and this manifesto is a response to the problems facing the country.”

He said it’s time for Ghanaians to vote for a team that is competent and has the skills to expertly manage the economy and bring prosperity to all. “We have an excellent team, ready and eager for our country,” he stressed.

Agric Policies

Elizabeth Afoley Quaye, NPP parliamentary candidate for Krowor (Nungua) who is an Agric Economist, outlined the party’s agricultural policies and promised comprehensive programmes to make agriculture the mainstay of the economy.

She said as part of the efforts to improve the fishing sector, an NPP government will build 10 landing sites in various fishing communities along the coast and make access to inputs easier for the farmers.

“We shall develop an effective and sustainable fisheries sector by ensuring the availability and effective distribution of premix fuel to the fisher folks. We will eliminate import duties for fishing equipment. We will also rigorously enforce the laws against pair trawling and other illegal fishing methods. Top of the agenda for fisheries will be the programme of building landing sites and storage facilities,” she assured.

On the poultry industry, she said the NPP will collaborate with the private sector to improve access to credit to expand production as well as support farmers to reduce post-harvest loses by ensuring guaranteed buying for their products.

Renowned surgeon, Prof Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, was billed to speak on innovation, technology and science but was taken ill moments he started espousing the party’s ideas.

Even before he left the stage, he said an NPP government will establish a Presidential Advisory Council of Science and Technology to provide leadership in that direction.

Trade & Industry

Former Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten, who tackled the issue of job creation, said, “The NPP will pursue aggressive industrialization based on value addition; provide tax and related incentives for manufacturing businesses; invest in skills training and apprenticeship as well as provide resources for small businesses and start-ups to emerge and flourish.”

 “To respond to the challenge of reining long-term finance, the NPP government will first establish an industrial development fund to support critical private sector industrial initiatives. The Fund will be ceded from government multilateral and private institutional investors. We will also recapitalize and restructure the National Investment Bank (NIB) to provide medium to long-term financing for industries.

We will mandate the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre to attract financing and investment into selected strategic industries. We will eliminate the current system of political patronage and restructure the existing MASCLOC scheme to provide credit for SMEs.”

Youth Policies

Maxwell Kofi Lugudor, NPP parliamentary candidate for Ketu South who spoke on the party’s youth policy, said when given the mandate, an Akufo-Addo-led government would tap the expertise of the youth for nation-building.

He said the government would set up Youth Enterprise Fund to support the entrepreneurial skills of the young ones.

Affirmative Action

Hajia Alima Mahama, a former minister who spoke on issues of women and children, said the government will appoint 30% of women to important positions.

She also said an NPP government will give incentives for women who are venturing into agriculture, reduce the kayayei phenomenon and fully implement the Domestic Violence Act, Disability Act and the Human Trafficking Act.