ghana news APC will prioritise people’s welfare — Ayariga
The All People’s Congress (APC) has launched its manifesto for the 2024 polls, outlining a series of policies which, it says, will prioritise the welfare of Ghanaians and transform the country.
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Dubbed ‘The Nation’s Manifesto’, on the theme: “Transforming Ghana and Restoring Hope”, the document is based on seven policy areas, including nationalisation, modernisation, industrialisation, digitalisation and globalisation.
Major initiatives in the manifesto include a national development plan, Ghana’s first industrial and manufacturing hub, an economic policy known as economic lockdown, which intends to make the country self-sufficient and self-reliant, and a national database system.
Others include a 24-hour economy, minimum public salary of GH¢5,000, a bi-weekly salary policy that will see public servants being paid every two weeks instead of monthly, a job centre, and an all-inclusive governance system
The presidential candidate of the APC, Hassan Ayariga, launched the manifesto at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), last Sunday.
Ghana first
Throwing more light on the policies, Mr Ayariga said the Ghana and Ghanaians First initiative would protect the national interest and promote the welfare of the people.
He said under an APC government, the Ghana and Ghanaian First initiative would be implemented to ensure that Ghanaians were given priority in employment and award of contracts, while there would be tax incentives to empower Ghanaian businesses
“Foreigners control our housing, banks, industries, mining, lands, our private sector. We have become 21st Century slaves.
“We must begin to believe in ourselves first. We cannot give our sovereignty to foreigners and call it public-private partnership (PPP). We must protect our national interest, the interests of the young ones and the future generation,” he said.
With regard to the National Development Policy, Mr Ayariga said an APC-led government would implement a comprehensive plan that would encompass all aspects of development, including economic growth, security, national infrastructure, health care and education
“The national development plan will give birth to our economic development. Under this, there will be a production and manufacturing hub. We do not produce in this country, we spend more than $1.2 billion dollars on the importation of rice.
This has to stop. We have the sea but we import fish, we have coconut, palm nut, shea nut, yet we import cooking oil,” he observed.
Bi-weekly salary
Mr Ayariga explained that under the bi-weekly policy, his government would not only pay workers on a bi-weekly basis, but would also amend the Labour Act for better conditions of service for workers.
Under the policy, he said the minimum salary for public workers would be GH¢5,000, while the minimum wage would be increased from the current GH¢18 to between GH¢150 and GH¢300.
“I’m going to implement a two-week salary structure. Ghanaians will take salary every two weeks. “Look at this economy today, it is very tough. Salary increment and restructuring must, therefore, be in line with the realities on the ground,” he added.
Writer’s email: emma.hawkson@graphic.com.gh