[ 2016-11-21 ]

Dec polls: Infrastructure not trump card: Kyerematen
Former Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Alan
Kwadwo Kyerematen, says every government, since
1957, has undertaken infrastructural development,
and should, therefore, not be the trump card of
any government defending its record in office.

According to the New Patriotic Party’s Campaign
Sector Committee Chairperson for Trade and
Industry, the most important thing required of any
government is to create a vibrant economy which
will create jobs for the people, and will result
in the improvement in the living standards of
Ghanaians, as well as prosperity for all.

He was, therefore, at a loss as to why President
John Mahama’s “only message” in the run-up
to the December 7 elections was about
infrastructural development, and not about the
policy initiatives that have been put in place to
improve on the wellbeing of the citizenry

“Their message is that in the last 8 years, they
have been able to construct roads, school
buildings and hospitals. It is a good thing. But,
let me ask you one question: ‘Have you seen any
government, in Ghana’s history, which has never
constructed roads, schools or hospitals?’” Mr
Kyerematen asked.

In spite of the NDC’s singular message of
infrastructural development, Ghanaians, Alan
Kyerematen noted, “are saying that their living
conditions are worse off. Ghanaians are saying
they cannot make ends meet; they cannot afford to
live in these hard times. This is, clearly, a sign
that the NDC has failed. Ghanaians are saying they
want Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP.”

The former Trade Minister was addressing a rally
at Akim Swedru in the Eastern Region on Saturday,
November 19, 2016, the last day of Nana
Akufo-Addo’s tour of the Region.

Job creation is Akufo-Addo’s focus

Alan Kyerematen told residents of Akim Swedru that
the creation of jobs to solve the country’s
crippling unemployment crisis will be the number
one focus of an Akufo-Addo government,
God-willing, from January 2017, assuring that
“we, in the NPP, have the formula for job
creation.”

He noted that in addition to rapid infrastructural
development for every part of the country, “Nana
Akufo-Addo’s message everywhere he goes is that
he is coming to create jobs for all Ghanaians. The
creation of jobs is what Ghanaians must look at
before voting.”

The “1-District-1-Factory” policy, he stated,
will be one of the programmes for the creation of
thousands of jobs for the teeming masses of
unemployed Ghanaian youth across the country.

“If we have 216 factories in this country, it
would mean that some of the items imported from
outside of the country will be manufactured right
here in Ghana. When we produce these items here,
it would mean the appreciation and strengthening
of the Ghana cedi. If there’s a factory in every
district, why would our young men and women leave
their respective homes for non-existent jobs in
the city centres?” he asked.

In addition to the ‘1-District-1-Factory’,
Alan Kyerematen noted that the creation of an
enabling environment for the private sector to
flourish will be a priority area for the
government of Nana Akufo-Addo.

“With many Ghanaians engaged in their own
private businesses, the NPP will make sure that
there is availability of capital, at significantly
lower lending rates, for the growth of businesses.
90% of jobs currently created in Ghana are through
small businesses. The NPP is coming to assist the
private sector, so they can create more jobs for
the people,” he assured.

Alan Kyerematen further revealed that to
complement the ‘1-District-1-Factory’ policy
and the strengthening of the private sector,
“Nana Akufo-Addo’s government is going to make
sure that strategic anchor industries are created
to provide more jobs for Ghanaians. These
industries will include iron and steel, cement,
bauxite and aluminum, petrochemical industry,
vehicle assembly and the manufacture of machine
parts and equipment.”

He, therefore, noted that “if you are NDC
supporter, and after listening to all these
interventions, you will make a choice for the
future of Ghana, which is voting for Nana
Akufo-Addo”, stressing that “if President
Mahama and the NDC had any plan for the creation
of jobs, they would have rolled it out by now.”

Source - Classfmonline

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