President Akufo-Addo
President Akufo-Addo has indicated that he will fulfill all the promises he made to Ghanaians prior to the December 2016 general elections.
Addressing a durbar of chiefs and people at Asankra Breman in the Western Region, the president mentioned that his political opponents described the promises as lies and impossibilities.
“But a little over one year in office, I have demonstrated that I am not a liar. You are witnessing that I am fulfilling all my promises one by one.
“They told you that Free SHS was a lie. They said I could not restore teacher trainee and nursing trainee allowances. They said the revival of the National Health Insurance Scheme was also impossible.”
“Nananom, right before your very eyes, and in the eyes of all Ghanaians, I am fulfilling these promises one after the other. Before the end of my tenure in office, I would have fulfilled all the promises I made to you,” he indicated.
Touching on free SHS programme, the President indicated that by September 2019, it would cover all students in senior high schools across the country.
“Free SHS is now a reality. In September this year, the Free SHS policy will cover new entrants in addition to those who will then be in SHS 2.”
“By September 2019, it will cover all students in Senior High Schools across the country,” he stressed.
He continued, “Teacher and nursing trainees are also receiving their allowances. We have also retired a chunk of the NHIS debt left by my predecessor, and the NHIS is working”
He gave assurance that the agriculture sector would witness a tremendous growth during his tenure.
“Ghanaians will know that I am an honest person who did not deceive them in order to win their votes in 2016.”
He told the gathering that in the run-up to the 2016 elections, he decried the deplorable nature of the roads, particularly in the Western Region and promised to fix them if given the nod.
“Indeed, the majority of the country’s resources are from the Western Region. That is why in the 2017/2018 budget, among others, the Kojina-Chirano Road was earmarked for construction.”
He indicated that “I am here to also to cut the sod for work to begin on the 30 kilometer Asankragwaa-Fordjokrom Road.”
“The contractors on these roads should be minded about the fact that funds have already been allocated for these projects.”
“We are expecting the road to be completed on schedule. In two years’ time, God willing, I am coming here to commission this road.”
The President told the people that the temporary ban on small-scale mining was necessitated by the activities of illegal miners who were destroying the country’s vegetation and water bodies.
“So we placed the ban to ensure that we put in place policies to guide and streamline the activities of small-scale mining in the country,” he told the people.
“It is not my intention that the ban will be there forever and ever. Very soon you will hear something positive from me in this regard,” the President added.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Asankragwaa