PRESIDENT AKUFO-Addo has appealed to Ghanaians to continue to have faith in his government in the face of current economic challenges, pledging to restore the economy back to normalcy.
According to him, his government has not thrown its hands up in despair, and is “determined to bring relief to the Ghanaian people, and return the economy back to the high rates of growth that characterised the management of our economy in the three years preceding the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020.”
He said this when he addressed the 12th Biennial and 50th Golden Conference of the Methodist Church of Ghana at the University of Education (UEW) Winneba, yesterday.
President Akufo-Addo said ever since he came to power, every policy initiative; whether it is the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy, the programme for Planting for Food and Jobs or the One-District-One-Factory initiative, has been implemented with the well-being of the Ghanaian at heart.
“Above all, I continue to have an abiding faith in God to help turn the fortunes of our nation around, accompanied by appropriate policy, determination and hard work on our part, and I urge all of you gathered here to have that same belief that the fortunes of Ghana under the Presidency of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will be restored. The Battle is the Lord’s!!” he stated.
President Akufo-Addo noted that one of the ways to bringing the economy back on track is the approach to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which he described as an important step.
“Other steps will be taken, in particular, to deal with the unacceptable depreciation of the cedi. Reining in inflation, by bringing down food prices, is a major preoccupation of the government, and this season’s emerging successful harvest will assist us achieve this objective, together with other policies that are being put in place,” he added.
Additionally, he indicated that the enhancement of agricultural productivity to guarantee the prospects of food security; the execution of the comprehensive infrastructural development plan in roads and railways; the conclusion of the digitilisation process to obtain the full benefits of the 4th industrial revolution; and the protection and greening of the environment to address climate change would be pursued vigorously.
Methodist Church Commendation
The President commended the Methodist Church, Ghana, for commemorating 50 years of independence from the British Church, saying it is a worthwhile celebration.
He acknowledged that the influence and growth of the church has increased exponentially, and enabled Ghanaian Methodism to make its own distinctive contribution to the worldwide Methodist movement.
President Akufo-Addo said the contribution of the Methodist Church, Ghana, to education, healthcare, social welfare and the financial development continues to merit the unalloyed gratitude of the Ghanaian people.
“The collaboration of the State and Church, in mutual respect and in the promotion of religious liberty, in both colonial and post-colonial times, has been an essential feature of Ghanaian governance, which has inured very much to the benefit of the Ghanaian people,” he said.
“The activities of this Church have impacted positively not only on the lives of its congregants, but also on the progress of Mother Ghana. You have been a good example of what it means to love one another, and give cheerfully to those in need, and I have no doubt that this legacy of the Church will long endure. Amen!!” he added.
The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Ghana, Most Rev. Dr. Paul Kwabena Boafo, commended the NPP government on the Free SHS policy and the School Feeding Programme.
He said the policy has given opportunity to many Ghanaians to access secondary education.
Most Rev. Dr. Boafo said the Methodist Church, Ghana, as a partner in the provision of quality education, is concerned about the challenges confronting the SHS system.
“We humbly appeal to the government to engage all stakeholders including the Faith-based Organisations to address these challenges. We believe that having operated the system for some time, it would not be out of place to call for a review to straighten the rough edges hampering the Free SHS policy.”
He urged the members of the church to rise to the mandate of equipping the church for ministry to the world.
“The Methodist Church, Ghana, meeting this year in Winneba must allow the power of the Holy Spirit to direct us in all our decisions and deliberations,” he added.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri