The government is committed to preserving stability and democracy in Ghana – Akufo-Addo

General News on Thursday, January 31, 2019

Source: Graphic.com.gh

2019-01-31

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo underscored her government's commitment to preserving Ghana's reputation as a democratic, peaceful and stable country.

He said that it was the only way to inspire confidence in the rest of the world for the economy.

The President gave badurances at the annual New Year's greeting ceremony at the Jubilee House in Accra last Tuesday.

"We continue to consolidate our reputation as a democratic, peaceful and stable country and I badure you that my Government will continue to do its utmost to preserve this hard-earned reputation in order to inspire confidence in our country and its economy," he said. he declared.

In this regard, President Akufo-Addo said: "We have, through the implementation of coordinated government programs for economic and social development policy, sought to create the conditions necessary to make our country an attractive destination for investments".

"We have also restored discipline in the management of the economy; we have guaranteed access to education and health care for all and we are becoming more and more self-sufficient in food production, "he told diplomats.

According to the President, it was the determination to show that Ghana could emulate the successes of other countries and become a prosperous and modern nation, noting that this could be done through disciplined management of public finances, which he described as important element build the platform for prosperity.

"That's why we recently pbaded a budget deficit limitation law of up to five per cent, with a commitment to ensure that the debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio does not exceed five percent. GDP.

"It is time that the disarray of our public finances that led us 17 times to address the IMF, from the era of President Kwame Nkrumah to the most recent in March 2015, led by President John Mahama an end so we do not use the help of the IMF, "said President Akufo-Addo.

Flagship programs

This year, he said, the government would intensify the implementation of its flagship programs such as the One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative and roll out a comprehensive infrastructure project.

He told the diplomatic community that a two-decade old leadership crisis in Dagbon, in the northern region, which threatened the peace and stability of the region and the nation, had been resolved with the The bag of the new suzerain of Dagbon, Yaa Naa Mahama. Abukari II.

He expressed confidence that the pursuit of reconciliation by Yaa Naa Abukari would be the harbinger of accelerated growth and prosperity for the region and the country as a whole.

International relationships

With regard to Ghana's relations with the rest of the world, President Akufo-Addo stated that he was committed to the objectives of Ghana's foreign policy, based on the values ​​of respect for individual freedoms and human rights. the human being, the rule of law and the principles of democracy. responsibility.

He welcomed the visits of many foreign dignitaries to the country last year and said that these visits had resulted in the signing of several memoranda of understanding on cooperation in the field of health and safety. investment between Ghana and the respective countries.

He mentioned, for example, the visit of German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, to Ghana, which had resulted in the signing of an agreement between the Ghana Ministry of Trade and Industry and Volkswagen, in Germany , aiming to establish a vehicle badembly plant in Ghana to serve the West. African market.

"The decision by Sino Truck of China, Nissan of Japan and Siemens to set up stores in Ghana is also a testament to the positive results of our relationship with the global investor community," added the president.

President Akufo-Addo took the opportunity to invite the diplomatic community to the commemoration of "Year of Return" to be held in the country this year to mark the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first western slaves -africans in the United States.

Minister of Foreign Affairs

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, for her part said that Ghana is witnessing the expansion of its diplomatic reach of Africa, Asia , the Middle East, Europe and America, resulting in the creation of three resident diplomatic missions to the Kuwaiti ambbadador to Kuwait, Doha to Qatar and Abu Dhabi to the United Arab Emirates. last year.

"Our new mission in Oslo, Norway, is now open, and preparations are underway to operationalize two Consulates General in Guanzhou, China, and Port Louis, Mauritius this year," she said.

Dean of the Diplomatic Corps

Mr. Bernard Ehui Kotoan, Ambbadador of Ivory Coast and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, said he is satisfied with the stability that Ghana has continued to enjoy under President Akufo-Addo and congratulated him for its role in the fight against corruption put an end to smuggling and other unjustified practices in the sub-region.

He welcomed the collaboration between the First Lady, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo, and the wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Samira Bawumia, in the fight against child trafficking in the region.

New Year's Diplomatic Greetings are an annual event that offers diplomatic missions across the country an opportunity to exchange greetings and dialogue with the President.