NPP gov’t fulfilling campaign promises – Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said his seven-month old government is already fulfilling the promises and commitments made in the lead up to the December 2016 elections.

According to him, despite the “economic mess” inherited by his administration, he will deliver.

He stressed, “when we came into office, we were met with huge debts and no money. It is for this reason that we put in place the appropriate measures to strengthen our monetary system, so the development we promised the people can be met.”

He noted that the Asempa budget has ensured that the country’s finances have been placed on a solid footing, and are gaining strength to ensure the fulfilment of his government’s promises.

President Akufo-Addo made this known at a durbar of Chiefs and people at Bibiani, in the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai, on Monday, August 7, 2017, at the commencement of his 3-day tour of the Western region.

A flagship programme of his government, the Free SHS policy, President Akufo-Addo reiterated, will commence in September 2017, made possible by the sound economic policies his government has put in place.

“I have been bastardised by several persons who claim the Free SHS policy is a misplaced priority, a lie, and cannot be done. The Free SHS policy, I wish to assure them, will start from September. The first students in the history of our country who are going to benefit from the Free SHS will be doing so as from September this year,” he said.

Touching on the dwindling fortunes of the cocoa sector, President Akufo-Addo noted that the policies and programmes instituted by former President John Agyekum Kufuor ensured that the cocoa production hit 1 million tonnes in 2010/2011.

However, cocoa production has since declined, with the 2015/2016 crop season recording a production of 778,000 metric tonnes.

“My government is going to increase cocoa production again to 1 million tonnes, and move it to 1.5 million tonnes in the course of my mandate. We will also ensure that cocoa farmers gain their pride of place in our society. We will make the cultivation of cocoa a source of gainful employment once again,” he said.

The 1-District-1-Factory policy, President Akufo-Addo noted, will be rolled out in the course of this month, and the construction of the Western Railway lines will also begin shortly, with these two initiatives creating hundreds of thousands of jobs.