Bawumia lists major 1st-term achievements of Akufo-Addo gov't

The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has given a firm indication of a take off by the Akufo-Addo government to implement its second term vision after the approval of its first second term budget.

Parliament last week approved the 2021 Budget and the House is expected to finalise the appropriation bill on Monday to pave way for the government to take off.

Read also: Parliament endorses 2021 Budget

As he stated government's eagerness to start implementing its second term programmes, Vice President Bawumia, who is also head of government's economic management team, has also outlined major first-term accomplishments of the Akufo-Addo government.

"Dear Friends, as we look forward to the implementation of the 2021 budget in our second term, it is important that we take note of the accomplishments of the Nana Akufo-Addo government in our first term after inheriting an economy in crisis. Here are some:," Dr. Bawumia wrote on Facebook on Sunday.

He then went on to list all the major first term accomplishments in different sectors.

On macroeconomic management, Dr. Bawumia stated the reduction of inflation from 15.4 percent in 2016 to 10.4 percent at the end of 2020, reduction of average lending rates from 32 percent in 2016 to 21 percent in 2020, lowest average exchange rate depreciation for any first term government since 1992 at 7.3 percent, increased internal reserves $6.1b in 2016 to 68.7b in 2020, upgraded sovereign credit rating from B- to B, among other economic gains.

In other sectors, the Vice President also listed massive industrialisation success under 1D1F, increased food production through Planting for Food and Jobs, introduction of pension scheme for cocoa farmes, about 550,000 public employment opportunities, which included doctors, teachers, nurses, other health workers and police officers.

Dr. Bawumia also touched on government's efforts at reducing the rate of debt accumulation per anum; from an average of 243 percent per anum between 2012-2016 to an average of 137 percent per anum between 2017 and 2020.

As the government looks forward to its second term, Dr. Bawumia acknowledged some challenges facing the Ghanaian economy, especially the impact of COVID-19, and assured that the government will do its best to transform the Ghanaian economy for the benefit of all.

"Notwithstanding these solid achievements, there are still challenges facing the Ghanaian economy and Ghanaians following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and I look forward to working with President Akufo-Addo to address these challenges and deliver on his vision to transform and modernize the economy for the benefit of all Ghanaians in our second term," Dr. Bawumia wrote.

Below is the list of accomplishments as posted by Vice President Bawumia:

1. Inflation has been reduced from 15.4% in 2016 to 10.4% at the end of 2020

2. Reduced average lending rates from 32% in 2016 to 21% in 2020.

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3. The average exchange rate depreciation over the last four years (7.3%) is the lowest for any first term government since 1992. The year 2020 recorded the lowest rate of depreciation in the last 28 years.

4. Cleaned up the mess in the financial sector that we inherited and saved the deposits of 4.6 million depositors.

5. Ghana has been consistently one of the fastest growing economies in the world for each of the last four years. notwithstanding the decline of GDP growth to 0.9% in 2020 as a result of COVID-19.

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6. For the first time in over two decades, the trade balance (the difference between what we export and what we import) recorded a surplus for four consecutive years from 2017-2020.

7. Ghana’s Gross International Reserves increased from $6.1 billion (3.5 months of imports) in 2016 to $8.6 billion in 2020 (4.1 months of imports).

8. Successfully exited the IMF program

9. Ghana’s sovereign credit rating upgraded from B- in 2016 to B with a stable outlook. First upgrade in 10 years

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10. Planting for Food and Jobs has increased food production. It has led to a 71% increase in the national production of maize and 34% in paddy rice.

11. The Global Food Security Index, which measures affordability, availability and quality of food across 113 countries, placed Ghana in 59th position in 2019, up from 78th position in 2016.

12. Introduced a pension scheme for cocoa farmers. The first such scheme since independence.

13. Established a Tree Crop Development Authority with a focus on mango, cashew, rubber, oil palm, shea and coconut.

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14. Implemented the One District One Warehouse initiative

15. Implemented One District, One Factory Initiative. In four years, 76 companies are in operation under 1D1F.

16. The new Automotive Sector Development Policy has resulted in VW, Sinotruk, Kantanka Group, and Nissan all assembling vehicles in Ghana.

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17. We have established the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) and the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC), both of which are progressing steadily in the development of these industries.

18. Established the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO). 100,000 graduates employed

19. Recruited nurses, doctors, and other healthcare workers, teachers, police officers, and many others in the public sector after many years of employment freeze under the previous Government. At least 550,000 public sector workers recruited.

20. Import duties reduced by between 30%-50%

21. Lowest average annual increase (8.25%) in petroleum prices in the fourth republic

22. Cumulatively, we reduced electricity tariffs for residential, business, and industrial consumers during our first term; the only government in the fourth republic to do so.

23. The rate of growth of the debt stock has been reduced from an average of 243% per annum between 2012-2016 to an average of 137% per annum between 2017 and 2020. The debt to GDP ratio however increased from 56.8% in 2016 to 76.1% in 2020 largely as a result of the fiscal impact of COVID-19, excess capacity charges and the cost of the financial sector clean-up.

24. Restarted the operations of Anglogold Ashanti’s Obuasi Mine, the Ghana Publishing Company, WAMCO, as well as GhanaPost with attendant job creation.

25. We have enrolled 15.5 million people on the biometric National ID card (Ghanacard) scheme.

26. We have implemented a digital address system capturing every square inch of land or water in Ghana.

27. Implemented the ground breaking Mobile Money interoperability (MMI) project. Ghana is the only country in the world that has thus far implemented our version of MMI.

28. Ghana is currently the fastest growing mobile money market in Africa. Ghana has 36.9 million registered mobile money accounts.

29. Ghana is the first country in the world to implement a Universal QR Code payment system that accommodates both bank accounts and mobile wallets.

30. We have made it easy for people to renew their national health insurance membership on their phones without having to spend precious time in long queues.

31. ECG customers can now easily buy pre-paid electricity units conveniently from wherever you are from your mobile phone.

32. The online passport application processes are helping many people and making it easier to obtain a passport.

33. Digitization at the port, elimination of long room, and streamlined inspections and enhanced enforcement has made it easier to clear goods and curbed corruption in the process.

34. Following digitization at the Scholarship Secretariat, everyone is able to apply for scholarship and receive same in the comfort of his or her home via online applications.

35. We have digitized our court system through the introduction of : e-justice system to end the manual filing processes
of Ghana Case Tracking System – electronic case tracking –
Electronic case distribution system -fair, equitable and transparent distribution of cases

36. We have implemented the digitization of Motor Insurance Database. All insurance policies, which now have key security features, have been synchronized to a national database, which can be accessed simply with any mobile phone by the insured, the police, and the public.

37. We have digitized the operations of DVLA and today our citizens have a much more convenient and easy way to acquire their driver’s license and register their vehicles.

38. We have started automation of our hospitals and we have seen efficient and improved service deliveries at hospitals that we have implemented this. The goal is to go paperless in all hospitals within two years.

39. We have completed the infrastructure to provide free Wifi to all 722 senior high schools, the 46 Colleges of Education, 260 district education offices, and an initial successful pilot of 13 public universities.

40. We have developed a one-stop shop for government services (Ghana.Gov). The process of on-boarding all government institutions is ongoing. On this website you can apply for and obtain various government services from MMDAs.

41. By making the National ID number the TIN number, we have increased the number of people with TIN numbers from 750,000 in 2016 to 15.5 million

42. By making the National ID number the SSNIT number, we have increased the number of people with SSNIT numbers from 3 million to 15.5 million

43. The National Health Insurance number is now your Ghanacard number

44. The digitization of the births and deaths registry is 80% complete

45. Abolished excise duty on petroleum

46. Reduced special petroleum tax rate from 17.5% to 15%.

47. Abolished the 1% Special Import Levy

48. Abolished the 17.5% VAT/NHIL on domestic airline tickets.

49. Abolished the 17.5% VAT/NHIL on financial services

50. Abolished the 17.5% VAT/NHIL on selected imported medicines, that are not produced locally

51. Abolished the 5% VAT/NHIL on Real Estate sales

52. Abolished import duty on the importation of spare parts.

53. Reduced National Electrification Scheme Levy from 5% to 3%

54. Reduced Public Lighting Levy from 5% to 2%

55. Introducing a new basic curriculum from kindergarten to primary six with a focus on reading, writing, arithmetic and creativity (the 4Rs)

56. Government is now paying the examination registration fees of BECE and WASSCE candidates

57. Teacher training allowances have been restored

58. Nursing training allowances have been restored

59. Scholarships increased by 70%

60. One Constituency one ambulance policy has been implemented.

61. Introduced drones in the delivery of critical medicine, vaccines and blood to people in remote parts of the country. Ghana has now the largest medical drone delivery service in the world.

62. SSNIT pension can now be received within 10 days of application

63. President Akufo-Addo’s government has expanded school feeding by 78%

64. We have expanded the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme by 53%

65. Doubled the capitation grant

66. Abolished utility bills for tertiary students

67. Abolished the 3-month arrears policy for teachers who had worked 2-3 years

68. Abolished the fees for post graduate medical training

69. President Akufo-Addo has also abolished market tolls for kayayei

70. Established the Zongo Development Fund to address the needs of Zongo and inner city communities.

71. Increased the allowances for peacekeeping soldiers from $30 to $35

72. Increased the share of the DACF to persons with disabilities by 50%

73. Implementation of our pledge of employing 50% of the persons who manage the country’s toll booths from amongst Persons with Disabilities.

74. Established the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Progam (NEIP) –

75. Establishing a Ghana Commodities Exchange –
76. Launching a comprehensive Building Code for Ghana for the first time- ;

77. Implemented one village one dam and constructed over 400 dams

78. President Akufo-Addo has also created six new regions to help promote decentralized and inclusive development

79. Not a single case of cholera in Ghana in the last four years.

80. The massive investment in water and sanitation facilities in many rural and deprived communities by our government has resulted in over 5400 communities being declared open defecation free (ODF)

81. The largest investment in infrastructure (roads, railways, schools, etc.) for any first term government in the fourth republic (www.deliverytracker.gov.gh)

82. Improved the financing of governance and anti-corruption MDAs like the Ministry of Justice and Office of the Attorney General, NCCE, CHRAJ, EOCO etc.

83. World class leadership demonstrated by President Akufo-Addo in the management of COVID-19. Notwithstanding the impact of COVID-19, inflation, interest rates and exchange rate depreciation are much lower today than they were in 2016!

84. Long running chieftaincy dispute in Dagbon has been solved against all odds.

85. Implemented Free Senior High School and Free TVET education

Notwithstanding these solid achievements, there are still challenges facing the Ghanaian economy and Ghanaians following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and I look forward to working with President Akufo-Addo to address these challenges and deliver on his vision to transform and modernize the economy for the benefit of all Ghanaians in our second term.