‘NDC manifesto will be hinged on four thematic areas’
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) 2016 general election manifesto, which the party considers as the real vehicle for change, will be driven by four thematic areas.
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Titled, "Changing lives, transforming Ghana," the manifesto's thematic areas are putting people first, strong and resilient economy for job creation, expanding social and economic infrastructure, and transparent and accountable governance.
The flag bearer of the NDC, President John Dramani Mahama, gave the highlights of the manifesto before a gathering of party members, the diplomatic corps and other invited personalities at the State Banquet Hall in Accra yesterday night.
Central to the manifesto are job creation and economic empowerment.
The NDC believed it had performed creditably in its first term in government, and the realisation of the vision as captured by the 2016 manifesto would launch the country to accelerated growth and further enhance the living standards of the people.
President Mahama urged the electorate to buy into the manifesto and retain the party in power.
Education
On education, President Mahama took a look at the strides made in the sector and zoomed into what was contained in the manifesto saying the next NDC government would implement "The teacher first agenda."
Among other things , the agenda would make provision of accommodation to teachers who accept postings to schools in deprived areas.
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The next four years of the NDC would also see a strong emphasis on technical education. The President explained that was necessary because skills training was the panacea to addressing the unemployment challenge.
The NDC, he said, also planned to expand the school feeding programme to cover all public schools in rural and urban areas.
Transparent and accountable governance
President Mahama said the NDC government would implement the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) recommendation to elect metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives.
"We shall also set up a commission of enquiry to increase the administrative regions from 10 to 15," he said.
Healthcare
The NDC manifesto promises the building of additional 20 polyclinics in the next four years.
On the National Health Insurance, the President said, the government will look for new source of funding . He said a percentage of the annual petroleum fund would be assigned to the NHIS.
The next NDC government would prioritise mental health care, the President said.
He further said the Accra Psychiatric Hospital would be relocated to Pantang and develop the Pantang Hospital into a first class healthcare facility.
"We shall build two psychiatric hospitals in Ashanti and Northern regions," he added, expressing the hope that the electorate would buy into the manifesto and retain the party in government
Roads
President Mahama also indicated the intention of the next NDC government to begin the dualisation of all major highways beginning with the Accra-Kumasi and Accra-Takoradi as well as the Accra-Ho, the President said.
He said there woukd be the new glory days for the Ghana Railway in the next term .
Youth development
President Mahama said there will be the expansion of he Youth Enterprises Programme (YEP) to increase the level support to GH¢25 million a year to support young entrepreneurs
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Pro-poor programmes
Among the areas the party said it would touch on is the expansion of the 1000 out of school Kayeyei YEA programme to cover 8,000 Kayeyei.
The President said the next NDC government would introduce a new motorised transport (tricycle) for physically challenged persons.
Additional 30 percent increase in the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) to the physically challenged.
Economy
On the economy, the President mentioned, among other things, that the next NDC government would emphasise low and stable inflation rates and also encourage the Bank of Ghana to support job creation.
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"We are looking for private sector to partner with the government to manage the Komenda Sugar Factory.
"We will be guided by location of industries. I know someone is talking about one district, one factory and so on," he said.
Investment
President Mahama said the economic and infrastructure investment would be based on economic development zones. Four zones would be created namely Eastern Western, Volta and Coastal Plains .
Agriculture
On agriculture, he said: "We want to make agricultural a business and will emphasise of mechanised farming."
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He said farmer service centres would be established all over the country, adding that farmers registered with the centres would be provided inputs, among others things.
He said two more shea butter processing factories would be established in Upper East and Upper West regions while a cashew development board would be set up with the headquarters in Brong Ahafo Region.