NDC Manifesto: Mahama promises National Economic Dialogue to tackle fiscal policy challenges

The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has announced that if elected president, he will initiate a National Economic Dialogue within his first 120 days in office. 

This dialogue, he said will aimed at developing a four-year fiscal consolidation program, which he views as a key component of his strategy to rebuild the economy.

Mr Mahama was delivering his speech at the 2024 NDC Manifesto Launch at the University of Education, Winneba on Saturday, August 24, 2024.

ECONOMIC POLICIES

1. Implement a 24-hour economy strategy with three (3) shifts of eight (8) hours each to maximise productivity and 
   efficiency, transform Ghana into an import substitution and export-led economy, enhance access to public services, 
   and create more well-paying jobs for unemployed Ghanaians.
2. Stop the economic decline and restore stability and inclusive growth to the economy.
3. We will also give opportunities for experienced banking hands who lost their jobs after the collapse of banks to secure their careers once more and move from the menial jobs they were forced into.
4. We shall abolish the obnoxious e-levy and review the levy imposed on bet winnings. With improved revenues from the savings made from a reduced size of government, an anti-corruption fight, fast-tracked operationalisation of new oil and gas wells, increased investment in the mining sector, and a revamped cocoa sector, we can ease the heavy tax burden that has been placed on Ghanaian households and businesses.
5. Actively attract viable and serious private sector investors to partner with the government to invest in productive sectors for job creation. 
6.  We shall relocate some ministries out of the central business area to decongest the city of Accra.
7.  This will involve an emphasis on agriculture and agribusiness and will have a strong focus on making Ghanaians own their 
   micro-enterprises.
8. Lead a process to set a standardised limit for borrowing and ensure that Ghana never suffers such a deadly debt management programme that threatens to send elderly people holding government bonds to their early graves and wipe out the investments of the Ghanaian middle class.
9. The next NDC administration will transform the economy, diversify our exports, and ensure value addition to create more jobs from January 2025.
10. We will add value to our cocoa by increasing domestic processing, refining our gold before export, and pursuing the dream of an integrated bauxite and alumina industry.
11. VALCO TOR and other strategic industries that can serve as extra pillars for our economy will be brought onstream.
12. Building a modernized agricultural economy driven by technology and digitalisation and establishing agribusiness shall be one of the key anchors of our economic transformation plan.
13. The new NDC government will introduce a new budget in April 2025 to support small and medium-scale businesses and adjust some taxes.