Remarks by Francis Asenso-Boakye, Deputy Chief of Staff at the Office of President, Ghana, at the 3rd South Africa-Ghana Awards on Saturday, 16th March, 2019 in Pretoria. South Africa.
Your Excellency, Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Distinguished guest, friends and well-wishers of Ghana gathered here this evening.
Allow me to convey the warm fraternal greetings of His Excellency, The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who graciously gave approval for me to join you at this awards ceremony as a clear demonstration of his government’s commitment to the diaspora community.
I should like to commend the organizers for the excellent work done to bring together the Ghanaian community as well as citizens of this country who have an interest in the development of Ghana to celebrate our collective achievements.
As you may no doubt be aware, the President has embarked on an aggressive development agenda with a vison of a Ghana beyond aid. Implementation of the Free SHS, introduction of NABCO, interventions such as the National Entrepreneurial and Innovation Programme are all part of a comprehensive effort at improving the human resource capital needed to transform our country.
Government initiatives such as, one district one factory, one village one dam and planting for food and jobs are designed purposely to boost our production capacity to accelerate the industrialization of our economy and stimulate economic growth.
Building a strong and resilient healthcare system that provides affordable, accessible and timely services to all remains a cardinal priority of the government. The NHIA, which was saddled with crippling debts only a few years ago, has seen significant injection of capital and adopted innovative approaches to its services. Government has also procured almost 280 ambulances, one for each constituency and continues to equip our hospitals with the necessary tools and diagnostics.
Distinguished guests, there is more that we can say about the concrete and valiant efforts that government is making to accelerate our development, create sustainable jobs and digitize our economy. But this evening is for the celebration of our compatriots.
I wish you all a pleasant evening.