Some of the participants
Cecilia Abena Dapaah, Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, has stated that in just his first term in office, President Akufo-Addo has together with his appointed astute men and women, done a yeoman’s job.
“This is clearly evidenced, with the introduction and implementation of comprehensive programmes and policies geared towards improving the living standards of all Ghanaians”, she asserted.
According to the Minister, the government’s performance so far should be an assurance to all Ghanaians that in the near future, all would benefit from the ‘national cake’.
She stated that Nana Akufo-Addo, in his 2016 campaign spelt out a number of policies to be implemented by the then opposition NPP in the event of its winning and coming into power.
“The set vision for the implementation of these flagships had been rolled out and is being carried out even as we speak”, she disclosed.
“I would therefore hinge on this opportunity to assure all and sundry, especially the youth and adults in the working group to take advantage of not just the free SHS and educational systems, but also to engage in sectors applicable to their needs”, she entreated.
She assured that government would continue to look for opportunities to reposition the country to attract investors.
According to her, the government’s National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP) existed to enable new businesses to emerge and give them the space to grow.
“Aside this, there is in place the financing and the development of businesses, particularly at the formative stages through various measures,” she added.
Ms Abena Dapaah made the remarks during the official opening of the 5th National Policy Summit in Takoradi on Sunday.
The two days programme was on the theme “Improving Performance in State Enterprises and Agencies”.
The National Policy Summit is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Information and a public-private initiative by the Universal Merchant Bank (UMB).
It was designed to bring together policy makers, business leaders, industry players, academia, civil society organisations (CSOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) among many others.
It was also to allow the public ascertain the level of attainment of Government’s delivery of its promises, critique Government ongoing and envisioned programmes as well as make constructive suggestions.
The third and fourth summits which were held in Kumasi and Tamale respectively, as well as this Takoradi event were jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Information and Universal Merchant Bank (UMB).
At the Takoradi summit, officials from eight state owned enterprises (SOEs) addressed the various sessions on their activities and answered questions from the general public.
The institutions included the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Accra Digital Centre (ADC), and State Housing Corporation (SHC).
The rest were Ghana Free Zones Board (GFZB), MASLOC, Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP) as well as the Committee on Illegal Mining,
Miss Dapaah disclosed that the government envisaged that small business startups, if successfully managed would become the supply chain for goods and services to feed the larger industries, adding ‘this also we are positive about”.
“This positivity stems from the fact that our policies are interlinked in the process of implementing our flagship programmes”, she indicated.
She said Ghana was becoming a limelight in the view of its nationals as well as international stakeholders, leading to the world turning its macroeconomic interests towards this nation.
She posited that State Owned Enterprises had in the past been perceived to be mismanaged or turned into ‘white elephants’ or rendered defunct.
“Over the years, Governments of this nation have lost huge sums of fiscal gains accruing from these enterprises due largely to the perception that it is Government’s work”, she indicated adding that “It is therefore significant to mention that the National Policy Summits are a channel used in disseminating Government programmes”.
She explained that the aim of the government’s digitization processes in some institutions was to help transform the organisations, saving government purse and improving citizens’ quality of life.
“These can be clearly seen in sectors where it had been implemented such as the Driver and Vehicle and Licensing Authority (DVLA) and the Registrar General’s Department”, she emphasised.
She announced that in January, 2018, a total amount of GH¢38,950,000 microfinance loan was disbursed to beneficiaries at the regional and district levels with flexible conditions and a tenure of twelve months under MASLOC.
“It is key to state also that the activities of MASLOC invigorates Government Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Program (IPEP) as an alternative access to loans with flexible terms”, she pointed out.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi