FULL TEXT: New Patriotic Party’s 2020 Manifesto
he ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) today, August 22, 2020, in Cape Coast, outdoored its 2020 manifesto ahead of the upcoming December general elections.
Notable among the policies is the abolishment of the guarantor system to allow all tertiary students access to education on a loan basis to be paid later.
The ruling NPP said it is optimistic that the policies, outlined in its manifesto will grant the Akufo-Addo administration another four-year mandate by the Ghanaian populace.
Read the party’s manifesto below:
Click here to read the New Patriotic Party’s 2020 manifesto.
LEADERSHIPOF SERVICE:Protecting Our Progress,Transforming Ghana for AllTHE BATTLE IS STILL THE LORD’S
(The party’s) policy is to liberate the energies of the people for the growth of a property owning democracy in this land, with right to life, freedom and justice, as the principles to which the Government and laws of the land should be dedicated in order specically to enrich life, property and liberty of each and every citizen.Dr. J. B. Danquah
PREFACEThe New Patriotic Party (NPP), under the leadership of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, ispresenting itself to Ghanaians to be re-elected to continue to lead this country for the nextfour years, 2021-2025. We began this journey four years ago with the promise to rebuild thiscountry, fully aware of the numerous challenges that Ghanaians faced.In our 2016 Manifesto, we presented to Ghanaians our determination to tackle these numerouschallenges. We shared an inspiring vision to build a Ghana Beyond Aid. Rebuilding seemed animpossible task. There were doubts in the minds of many about our ability to overcome thechallenges.In the course of our rst term in oce, we have made what seemed impossible a reality. With skilland experience, we have brought the Black Star to its tting status in the comity of nations. ThePresident’s vision of Ghana Beyond Aid has ignited the imagination of Ghanaians. With speed,we have made signicant progress in restoring economic stability, improved macroeconomicconditions that aect the lives of Ghanaians and the successes of businesses, stimulatinggrowth, and providing opportunities for job creation led by the private sector, supported by amuch improved and stable banking system. We were on schedule to maintaining our momentumfor progress before the Coronavirus pandemic’s (COVID-19) major disruptions in every aspectof our national life occurred, including the tragic loss of lives.Managing the disruptions, mobilising resources, protecting citizens from a ravaging virus, andmaking sure that our progress is not derailed, have been the focus of the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his Government. And it is not hard to see why Ghanaians areinvesting even greater trust in his leadership.We present to you, rst, what we have delivered, and are delivering on the promises we madeto you, and second, to ask, once again, humbly, for your mandate for the next four years so wecan continue building on, and completing the work that we, together, have started.NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTOvNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
MESSAGE FROMTHE PRESIDENTWe, in the New Patriotic Party, fully understand the consequence of putting a signature to acontract. In 2016, we presented our Manifesto, titled “Change: An Agenda for Jobs; CreatingProsperity and Equal Opportunity For All” to the Ghanaian people. It represented a solemnsocial contract between the electorate and us, on the basis of which, by the grace of God andthe generosity of the Ghanaian people, we secured a famous and overwhelming victory.In that contract, we pledged, amongst others, to help create a society of opportunities forall, we remained committed to our belief in democratic governance and private sector-ledeconomic development, and we reiterated our rm stance as the party of the rule of law, theparty of business, the party that builds and creates wealth, and the party of social justice.In the nearly four years that it has been my abiding privilege, by the grace of God, to lead thisparty in government, we have kept our eyes rmly on these beliefs, and we have recordedsuccesses in all sectors of national life, which have had signicant impact on the lives of allGhanaians. By common consent, it has been established that we have kept faith with thepeople of Ghana, by fullling the great majority of our manifesto promises.We have changed the outlook on education in this country; we have revived and strengthenedour healthcare delivery system; we have been busy in the delivery of physical infrastructurein all parts of the country; we have made huge investments in agriculture, with the goal ofensuring our nation’s food security; we have cleaned the nancial sector mess we inherited,and have, with the active co-operation of the Bank of Ghana, strengthened the banking andnancial sector; and we have shown that the economy of our country can be transformed anddiversied by a government of the New Patriotic Party.We have embraced the application of digital technology in the delivery of public services;we have restored the allowances of nursing and teacher trainees, that were scrapped by theMahama government; we have provided each constituency with an ambulance, a uniqueachievement in Ghana’s history; we have reduced the benchmark values of import duties by asmuch as 50%, and, in the case of vehicles, by 30%; we have put an end to the UnemployedGraduates Association, which was such a sad feature of the Mahama years, by creating NationBuilders Corps (NABCO) and several other job creation initiatives targeted at the youth; wehave systematically enhanced the capacity of the anti-corruption institutions of the State;and we have superintended over the successful reorganisation of our regional governancestructure, resulting in the creation of six (6) new regions, with strong popular support.Indeed, all our agship programmes, be it Free SHS, “One District, One Factory”, “One Village,One Dam,” the Programme for Planting for Food and Jobs, et al, have been rooted in the eortto liberate the energies of the people to grow an economy of which all the people can be part.On the global stage, the image and reputation of our country, which had been compromised,are now high again.NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTOviiNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
When the Coronavirus pandemic, that has wrought havoc to the lives and livelihoods of peoplein all the nations of the world, reared its head in Ghana, we took immediate, decisive actionsto contain and limit its spread, and protect the population, actions from which the nation is stillbenetting, and, subsequently, took the equally bold decision to implement a Relief, Resilienceand Recovery plan, with the overarching aim of providing relief to the ordinary Ghanaian, andbeing able to nd more resources to strengthen the productive sectors of the economy toensure sustained economic activity. Government has gone ahead to establish the one hundredbillion cedi Ghana COVID Alleviation and Revitalisation of Enterprises programme, (we call it,ttingly, the Ghana CARES programme), whose aim, over the next three years, is to stabilise,revitalise and transform our nation, through the improvement of the country’s business climate,and support for the private sector.Having achieved all these signicant milestones, even in the midst of the diculties we met,and the negative eects of the unforeseen pandemic, I am hopeful that the Ghanaian peoplewould grant the NPP another resounding victory in 2020.That is why, in furtherance of this, the programmes and policies contained in the NPP 2020Manifesto, dubbed“Leadership of Service: Protecting our Progress, Transforming Ghanafor All”, are aimed at consolidating the signicant gains chalked in oce, and setting the stagefor the next level of our nation’s development. I believe in the programmes that we have drawnup in our Manifesto, because they will continue the nation on the path of social and economictransformation, on which we have embarked. Indeed, they will lead to the transformation ofGhana to the benet of all Ghanaians.We must, however, be reminded, at all times, that we are up against an opponent who isdesperate to return to power to continue the agenda of mismanaging the economy to thesuering and despair of businesses, households and families and, by that, jeopardising thefuture of our children. We cannot aord to let that happen. We cannot, therefore, be complacent.We have to work hard for victory, regardless of the fact that ‘One Good Term Deserves Another’.So, let us make sure our message is heard loud and clear from Axim to Aao, and from Accrato Paga. Let us go to every part of the country and spread the story of our good news; tell theyoung people about the possibilities Free SHS will present them; tell the farmers about theprogramme for Planting for Food and Jobs, which translates into enhanced income levels forthem; and let us tell the business entrepreneurs about the reduction of their tax burdens andthe improvement of the business climate, so their businesses can ourish, and they can, inturn, create jobs.Indeed, the December 2020 presidential election represents, arguably, the clearest of choicesever for the Ghanaian people to make.It bears repeating that 2020 is between the current President and the President who was votedout decisively in the last contest. It is about leadership. It is about integrity. It is about theperformances of the two men when given the opportunity by the Ghanaian people to lead. It isabout measuring records against promises. It is about which of the two leaders has shown inoce that he knows how to manage the economy. It is about which of the two leaders you, thevoter, can trust to deliver. It is about which of the two men you can trust with the future of yourchildren. It is about which of the two leaders you know you can depend on in times of crisis.It is about which of the two leaders you believe can put in motion the necessary measures torevive and strengthen the economy, businesses, and social services, and build our country outNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTOviiiMESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
of the Coronavirus pandemic. It is about which of the two leaders can implement a programmeof transformation.We, in the NPP, have demonstrated that, with the support of the Ghanaian people, we arecapable of supervising the transformation of our economy and nation that all Ghanaians want.I am condent that, together, all of us in Ghana, with the appropriate leadership, can fulll thedreams and aspirations of our forebears, who initiated the struggle for our nation’s liberationand independence from colonial rule, and who envisioned Ghana to be a united, democratic,prosperous and happy nation, the beacon of freedom and justice in Africa and the world.Four more years for Nana and the NPP to do more for you!The Battle is still the Lord’s!!Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-AddoNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTOixNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOMMESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
MESSAGE FROMTHE VICE PRESIDENTFour years ago, at the launch of our manifesto, we promised Ghanaians that the next NewPatriotic Party (NPP) government will place people at the centre of its policies and programmes.That the hopes, dreams and concerns of every Ghanaian will be the catalyst and guidingprinciple in our quest to make life better for all.Four years on, I am proud to say that we have delivered on most of our promises and areon course to deliver the rest, with the prayers and help of every Ghanaian, and under thedistinguished and able leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.On assumption of oce on 7th January 2017, we met a nation aicted with a myriad of economicdiculties, unprecedented unemployment, and a private sector in distress, but after three anda half years of prudent management of the economy under President Akufo-Addo, we havereversed largely the damage done by our predecessors.Despite the debilitating eects of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have stayed true to the socialcompact we signed with Ghanaians to make life better for everyone. Our interventions in everystrata of society, in line with our policies and programmes, have been aimed at ensuring thegreater good.We of the New Patriotic Party are committed to initiating pro-poor policies and programmes tobridge the inequality gap. The NPP has distinguished itself as the best Party to lead the forwardmarch for Ghana’s accelerated development.But, we are not just building infrastructure and introducing epoch-making interventions; we arebuilding a nation.We have been committed to our social contract to providing free Senior High School education,creating jobs, transforming agriculture, industrialising the economy, sustaining the NationalHealth Insurance Scheme, digitising the economy, ensuring the public safety of Ghanaians,and keeping the lights on. We still have much more to do.The future is bright if we stay the course. That is why we are asking the good people of Ghanato give Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP “four more to do more for you!”May God bless us all.May God bless our homeland Ghana.NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTOxiNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTOxiiiNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM MESSAGE FROMTHE CHAIRMANOn the eve of the momentous 2016 Elections, Ghana wasat a crossroad. We found ourselves in a messy economicand social crisis due to the mismanagement, incompetenceand corruption of the Mahama-led NDC government.We asked for your mandate, and you elected overwhelminglyNana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as president of Ghana.Four years on, we have kept faith with the people of Ghana.Under the presidency of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo,Ghana is on the rise again, we are on the right path towardseconomic prosperity, and have undertaken far-reachinginstitutional reforms necessary for good and accountablegovernance in a stable and democratic society.We have delivered on at least 80% of our promises,including Free SHS and TVET, “One District, One Factory”,on infrastructure development through Infrastructure forPoverty Eradication Programme (IPEP), and on “Plantingfor Food and Jobs” among many others.When, unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic struck, we steered the ship of state under thecompetent leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and secured largely thehealth and safety of Ghanaians. As we head into another election in December this year, Ghana needs a stable, rm, andcompetent leader’s hands over the next few years to ensure we protect the progress we havemade together, and to transform Ghana for all Ghanaians.I present to you Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, as the proven leader, a stable, rm, andcompetent captain of the ship of state we need over the challenging years ahead, and I humblycall on all Ghanaians of every stripe to, once again, overwhelmingly vote for, and renew hismandate and that of our Parliamentary Candidates in December 2020.May God bless our homeland Ghana and continue to make us great and strong. Thank you.Freddie Blay National Chairman
NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTOxvNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOMCONTENTSPART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP ……………………………………………………….11. Promises Made, Promises Delivered …………………………………………………………………….21.1. The Economy ……………………………………………………………………………………………….51.2. Cleaning Up The Financial Services Sector Mess ……………………………………………131.3. A Government Machinery That Works/Digitising Government Services ……………..171.4. Trade and Industry ………………………………………………………………………………………231.5. Agriculture and Rural Development ……………………………………………………………….411.6. Education …………………………………………………………………………………………………..511.7. Health ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..611.8. Social Development …………………………………………………………………………………….651.9. Energy and Petroleum………………………………………………………………………………….711.10. Infrastructure Development ………………………………………………………………………….791.11. Natural Resources (Lands, Forestry and Mining) ……………………………………………..931.12. Science, Technology, Innovation, and Environment …………………………………………991.13. Governance, Corruption and Public Accountability ……………………………………….1031.14. Security ……………………………………………………………………………………………………1091.15. Foreign Aairs …………………………………………………………………………………………..1151.16. Youth and Sports ………………………………………………………………………………………1211.17. Tourism, Chieftancy, Culture and Creative Arts ……………………………………………..1251.18. Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………………………….133PART 2: COVID-19 ………………………………………………………………………………………………….1372. Its Impact On Ghana ………………………………………………………………………………………..1382.1. The COVID-19 Challenge ……………………………………………………………………………1382.2. The General Impact of COVID-19 ………………………………………………………………..1382.3. Sector-Specic Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic ……………………………………….1392.4. Mitigating Measures Implemented……………………………………………………………….1422.5. Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………………………….145
NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTOxviCONTENTSPART 3: POST-COVID-19 RECOVERY ………………………………………………………………………1473. The Ghana CoVID Alleviation and Revitalisation of Enterprises (Ghana CARES)Programme………………………………………………………………………………………………………148PART 4: BEYOND 2020 ……………………………………………………………………………………………1514. Consolidating Our Achievements and The Way Forward ……………………………………1524.1. Consolidating Our Gains …………………………………………………………………………….1524.2. What We Will Do in Specic Sectors ……………………………………………………………152PART 5: ACCELERATING GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATION ………………………………….1695. Digitisation and The Transformation of The Ghanaian Economy ………………………..1705.1. The Digitisation Journey …………………………………………………………………………….1705.2. Building a Digital Services Economy and Creating a Digital Hub ……………………..1716. Building The Private Sector For Accelerated Growth …………………………………………1736.1. Core Economic Clusters to Guide Private Sector Investments ………………………..1736.2. Tackling the Binding Constraints in Private Sector Growth ……………………………..1746.3. Promoting enablers for Private Sector Growth ………………………………………………1786.4. Investing in Building an Entrepreneurial Culture: Youth Development andEntrepreneurship Support …………………………………………………………………………..1806.5. Building a Resilient Financial Services Sector for Economic Transformation……..183PART 6: CONCLUSION ……………………………………………………………………………………………1857. Transformation for a Ghana Beyond Aid ……………………………………………………………186
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NEW PATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENT IN FREEDOMPART 1 ACCOUNTING FOR OURSTEWARDSHIPNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO1
1. Promises Made, Promises DeliveredThe NPP, under the leadership of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is presenting itself toGhanaians to be re-elected to continue to lead this country for the next four years. We beganthis journey four years ago when you gave us the overwhelming mandate in December 2016 tolead the rebuilding of this country. We were aware of the monumental challenges that Ghanaiansfaced, including:• declining economic growth• high and constantly rising ination and interest rates• rapidly depreciating currency• low investor and business condence• high unemployment, especially among the youth• poorly regulated and poorly managed nancial services sector• a collapsing National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and re-emergence of the cash-and-carry system• a collapsing emergency healthcare system, with only 55 semi-functional ambulances inthe country• ve years of disrupted electricity supply (Dumsor) with its associated costs• average annual increase in electricity prices of 45% between 2010 and 2015• increases in taxes on many items that hurt production and penalise consumers• freeze on public sector recruitment• termination of teachers and nursing training allowances• teachers’ salary arrears (paid only 3 months) after working for 2-3 years• cumbersome process and corrupt practices associated with the acquisition of passports,drivers’ licenses, as well as other government services, and• widespread corruption in public oceIn our 2016 Manifesto, we presented to Ghanaians our resolve to tackle these and otherdaunting challenges. We shared an inspiring vision to create jobs and to build a prosperousand inclusive society. Rebuilding seemed an impossible task. There were doubts in the mindsof many about our ability to overcome the enormous challenges we inherited let alone movingforward the aspirations of citizens to improve their well-being and laying the foundations fora Ghana Beyond Aid. What we had in abundance was the resolve to build a stronger, moreunited and more prosperous nation, and that, with good governance and sound economicmanagement, and by the grace of God, we could make what seemed impossible possible.In the three and a half years we have been in oce, we have stabilised the economy, eliminatedand reduced the number of taxes, reduced the overall tax burden, doubled growth, createdover two million jobs in the public and formal private sectors (inclusive of Government job-creation programmes and initiatives such as Planting for Food and Jobs), improved accessto government services through rapid digitisation, and set millions of Ghanaians on the pathNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO2PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
towards growth, prosperity, and equal opportunity through signature programmes like FreeSenior High School, Planting for Food and Jobs, One District-One Factory, and Infrastructurefor Poverty Eradication Programme. We have kept faith with the promises we made to theGhanaian people, and we have delivered or are delivering 80% of our manifesto promises.In the inspiring words of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo: “it is my rm conviction that we can, and should, make this beautiful country of oursmore prosperous and improve the quality of life of every Ghanaian…Indeed we can, andshould, build a Ghana that is prosperous enough to stand on her own two feet: a Ghanathat is beyond dependence on the charity of others to cater for the needs of her people…”Here are highlights of over ve hundred (500+) dierent activities, categorised under twohundred and eighty-nine promises (289), we have, with the support of the Ghanaian people,achieved so far in our rst term (a detailed list of the status of our manifesto promises can befound atwww.deliverytracker.gov.gh ):NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO3PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
5NEW PATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENT IN FREEDOM ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP1.1. The Economy
1.1. The EconomyNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR1.Restore overallmacroeconomic stabilityIn our rst three years in oce,prior to theCoronavirus pandemic, we reduced ination, doubledeconomic growth, reduced the rate of exchange ratedepreciation, reduced the scal decit and improvedour external payments position:• the Fiscal Decit declined from 6.8% of rebasedGDP in 2016 to 3.8% in 2018 and 4.8% in 2019,excluding cost of the one-o nancial sectorbailout• for the rst time in a decade, Ghana also recordedPrimary Balance surpluses for three years in a row:0.5% of GDP in 2017, 1.4% in 2018, and 0.9% in2019 compared to a decit of 1.1% in 2016• ination dropped steadily from the high of 15.4%at the end of 2016 to 7.9% (rebased) at the end ofDecember 2019, about the lowest recorded since1992• for the rst time in over 20 years, the Trade Balancerecorded a progressively large surplus in 2017,2018, and 2019• between 2017 and 2019, the Cedi exchange ratehas been twice as stable as it was under theMahama-led NDC government (2013-2016): anaverage depreciation of 8.7% under NPP and 18%under the NDC• Ghana successfully issued the longest-dated, andlowest priced Eurobond by a Sub-Saharan Africancountry. It was also oversubscribed by 350%• in real terms, the average real growth before 2017(2014 to 2016) was 2.8%, while from 2017 (2017 to2019) it was 6.96%• growth in 2017 was 8.4%, 6.2% in 2018 and 6.5%in 2019, amongst some of the fastest growingeconomies in the world for the last three yearsNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO6PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.1. The EconomyNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR2.Reduce the rate ofgovernment borrowing1. Between 2008 and 2012, Ghana’s debt stockincreased by 267%. Between 2012 and 2016, theincrease was 243%. The increase from 2016 to2019 was 76% (including the one-time nancialsector bailout)2. The Debt-to-GDP ratio increased by 49% between2008 and 2012 and 19% between 2012 and 2016,but only 3.9% between 2016 and 2019 (excludingthe cost of the nancial sector bailout)3. Interest payments as a percentage of GDP declinedfrom 6.9% in 2016 to 5.6% in 2018, and 5.7% in20193.Reduce interest ratesto spur private sectorinvestment1. The Bank of Ghana Monetary Policy Rate declinedfrom 25.5% at the end of December 2016 to 16%at the end of 2019.2. The Average Lending Rate declined over the sameperiod from 31.70% to 23.7%.4.Shift the focus ofeconomic managementfrom taxation to stimulateproductionWe reduced or abolished over 15 dierent taxes andlevies among others, including:1. 1% Special Import Levy2. 17.5% VAT on selected imported medicines notproduced in the country3. 17.5% VAT on Financial Services4. 5% VAT on Real Estate Sales5. 17.5% VAT on domestic airline tickets6. VAT for micro and small enterprises from 17.5%to 3% Flat Rate7. Import duty on the importation of spare parts8. Levies imposed on Kayayei by local authorities9. Import duty for all goods by 50% and 30% forvehicles10. Excise duty on petroleum11. Full corporate tax deduction for privateuniversities who plough back 100% of protsinto the university12. National Electrication Scheme Levy from 5% to3%NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO7PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
1.1. The EconomyNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR13. Public Lighting Levy from 5% to 2%14. Special Petroleum Tax rate from 17.5% to 13%and introduced specic rates, and15. Capital Gains Tax Exemption on stocks tradedon the Ghana Stock Exchange or publicly heldsecurities approved by the SEC5.Enact a FiscalResponsibility LawPassed Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2018 (Act 982)6.Establish a Fiscal Council Established via a Gazetted Executive Notice7.Establish a FinancialStability CouncilEstablished via a Gazetted Executive Notice8.Banking the Unbanked/ Financial InclusionMillions of unbanked with mobile money accounts nowpractically have bank accounts as a result of MobileMoney Payments Interoperability System9.Oer tax incentives toyoung entrepreneurs toencourage them to initiatestart-upsTax incentives oered as part of the NationalEntrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP)10.Oer tax incentivesto local real estatedevelopers and suppliersof building materials1. Developers constructing low cost aordableresidential premises approved by the Minister forWorks and Housing have a chargeable income taxrate of 1% for the rst ve (5) years2. VAT on Real Estate sales has been removedNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO8PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.1. The EconomyNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR11.Build an economywhich will create jobsand prosperity for allGhanaians: “An Agendafor Jobs”Between 2017 and 2019, over two million full-timeequivalent jobs were created in the public and privateformal sectors, as well as through Government job-creation programmes such as NABCO and Planting forFood and Jobs, made up of:Public Sector:778,706Formal Private Sector:267,939Government Job-Creation Programmes:1,008,365TOTAL2,055,010The Government programmes through which jobs werecreated are:Planting for Food and Jobs (Annual Average):762,300Nation Builders Corps:100,000National Entrepreneurship andInnovation Plan (NEIP):92,000National Identication Authority:35,380Out-grower Value Chain Fund (OVCF)(Annual Average):7,254Ghana Commercial Agriculture Project(Annual Average):11,431TOTAL1,008,365Of the public sector jobs created to date (2020 half-year included), 84,183 are under the Forest PlantationProgramme, 65,000 are Health and Medical Personnel,74,000 are Teachers and Non-Teaching Sta, 6,718are Lecturers in Tertiary Institutions, and 184,593 areemployed through Youth Employment Agency (YEA),among many others.There has also been signicant job creation by theprivate sector, for example through the revival of Anglogold Ashanti’s Obuasi Mine. Since its restart, fromJune 2018, to June 2020, it has employed 4,163 peopleon the mine rehabilitation project, with 78% of theUS$502 million so far spent going directly toNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO9PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
1.1. The EconomyNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FARGhanaian-owned (39%) and Ghana-domiciled (39%)rms that hire GhanaiansPs: To see how we are protecting existing jobs in theprivate sector and our plan to support the creation ofnew jobs in the face of the Coronavirus pandemic, seeChapters 2 through to 6.12.Revenue generationmeasures throughbroadening the taxbase, increasing taxcompliance, reducinggovernment expenditure,increased ows from oil &gas resources, eliminationof procurement-relatedcorruption, and pluggingof revenue leakages1. Taxpayer Identication Number (TIN) Unit set up in2018. TIN registrations have more than doubled in just two years2. Excise Tax Stamp policy launched on the 31stof August, 2017 and enforced at all entry pointseective 1st January, 20183. On completion, the National ID Card Scheme willhelp further broaden the tax base4. Implementation of the e-Procurement platform hasdigitised public sector procurement and reducedopportunities for corruption13.Financial SectorReform – I (DeepeningFinancial Markets,including MortgageBanking & reactivatingthe establishment of anInternational FinancialServices Centre (IFSC) inGhana1. Cleaning up the nancial sector to save customerdeposits: as of July 20, 2020, Governmentexpenditure for cleaning up the nancial servicessector is GH¢21.60 billion, protecting the fundsof 4.6 million depositors, investments of 81,700people, and 10,000 jobs, which otherwise wouldhave been lost. In addition, using the Ghana Amalgamated Trust (GAT) to invest in ve (5) localbanks, we ensured the survival of nine local banks,instead of four, saving 5,400 direct and 12,000indirect jobs2. Government has established the National Housingand Mortgage Finance Scheme to address boththe housing supply and demand side nancingchallenges3. The Roadmap and Technical Feasibility Reportshave been completed for the Implementation of theIFSC over the next four years14.Financial Sector Reform- II (Financial Inclusion Activities, includingelectronic payments)Mobile Money Payments Interoperability Systemimplemented. We have also passed the PaymentSystems and Services Act 2019 to regulate theelectronic and mobile payments market, launched theUniversal QR CODE, and issued guidelines to regulateand support FintechsNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO10PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.1. The EconomyNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR15.Financial Sector Reform- III (Reinforcing Section40 of Bank of Ghana Act,2002) to stabilise the ratiobetween the currency incirculation and foreignexchange cover All the reserve adequacy measures have been met16.1. Remove import dutieson raw materialsand machinery forproduction within thecontext of ECOWASCommon ExternalTari Protocol2. Reduce Fees andcharges at the ports,and3. Reduce Import Dutiesat the portsWorking within the framework, we implemented a 50%reduction in the Benchmark Values of all goods and30% for vehicles17.Introduce tax creditsand other incentivesfor businesses that hireyoung graduates fromtertiary institutionsIt is being implemented under the NationalEntrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP) with theassistance of GRA 18.Facilitate thedevelopment of an activemortgage market toexpand mortgage loansto GhanaiansGovernment has established the National Housingand Mortgage Finance (NHMF) Scheme to addressboth the housing supply and demand side nancingchallenges and is in operation. In this regard, theNHMF has successfully piloted two projects inpartnership with private sector banks and TemaDevelopment Company (TDC):1. In partnership with GCB and GCB Securities, 250housing units have been completed under PhaseI at Tema Community 22. Under Phase II, 200additional homes will be delivered2. A Pilot Phase to develop aordable housingReal Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) ecosystemcommenced in partnership with GCB Securities,NHMF, and TDC. This initiative has resulted inthe purchase of 80 completed ats for rentals atthe Kpone Aordable Housing Project at TemaCommunity 26NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO11PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP1.2. Cleaning Up TheFinancial ServicesSector Mess13NEW PATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENT IN FREEDOM
The NPP inherited a weak and fragile nancial services sector from the Mahama-led NDCGovernment.Many nancial institutions had either collapsed or were on the verge of collapse. Many werenot paying their depositors or employees at all or regularly: There were countless instanceswhere customers made long journeys to withdraw as little as GH¢200 only to be asked to comeanother day.These failures were a direct result of a system of poor licensing and regulation, non-existentcapital, weak corporate governance characterised by related-party transactions, and politicalinuence-peddling among others. Many innocent people – depositors, investors and employees– suered the consequences of these grievous lapses.The Mahama-led NDC Government and the management it put in place at the Bank of Ghana,as well as at the Securities and Exchange Commission, had enough time to address thesefailures, but failed to take action. Bank of Ghana was, for example, aware of the impendingfailures in 2015, in the case of banks, and as far back as 2012, in the case of savings and loansand micro nance companies.In order to clean up and strengthen the sector and prevent its collapse, the new management ofBank of Ghana, which we installed, revoked the licenses of 9 banks, 23 savings and loans and386 micronance companies. The central bank did this to protect the entire nancial system,and preserve the hard-earned savings of hardworking men and women across the country.The Securities and Exchange Commission also revoked the licences of 53 fund managers forthe same reasons.The clean-up exercise, and the Government’s decision to step in to provide nancial support,ensured an orderly exit of the failed institutions, so that over 4.6 million depositors have accessto their deposits, and 81,700 investors to their investments, and, over 10,000 jobs saved todate.The nancial support, provided by the Akufo-Addo Government, ensured no depositor wouldlose a pesewa of their savings. All depositors of the banks, savings and loans, and micronanceinstitutions, by the end of September this year, would have received a full, 100% refund of theirdeposits.Employees, whose salaries and benets had remained unpaid by the defunct institutions, havenow been paid or are being paid by the Receivers. The alternative would have been millions ofdepositors losing their savings and over 10,000 individuals losing their jobs. As at the end of the rst quarter of 2020, a total amount of GH¢13.6 billion has been spent onthe resolution of failed banks, Specialised Deposit-taking Institutions (SDIs), Micro FinanceInstitutions (MFIs), the establishment of the Consolidated Bank Ghana Limited (CBG), as wellas the capitalisation of the Ghana Amalgamated Trust (GAT). Additionally, with the President’s directives to pay fully all depositors whose funds were lockedup with the failed SDIs and MFIs, an amount of GH¢5 billion was spent. This brings the totalexpenditure on nancial sector interventions as at June 2020 to GH¢18.6 billion. Governmenthas also committed an amount of GH¢3.1 billion towards supporting investors in failed assetmanagement companies regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO14PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
This would bring the overall total Government expenditure for the failed nancial institutions toGH¢21.60 billionFurthermore, the nine indigenous banks, that were closed, were to a large extent taken over byother indigenous Ghanaian banks – GCB and CBG – ensuring stronger Ghanaian ownership inthe banking sector. GAT, with 100% Government of Ghana ownership, has also successfullyinvested in 4 indigenous banks to help them meet the new capital requirements.With GAT, Government saved over 5,400 direct and 12,000 indirect jobs, and ensured that thecountry retained nine indigenous banks instead of only four, after the increase in the minimumcapital requirement for the banking industry. The transformational plan, being executed by GATand the investee banks, will have a signicant positive impact on these banks and the economyas a whole.The benets of the clean-up exercise, including other regulatory reforms such as Bankof Ghana’s Corporate Governance Directive (December, 2018) and Fit and Proper PersonsDirective (July 2019), are evident for all to see: we now have a stronger and more resilientbanking sector than we have ever had, and deposits in the banking system have increasedsignicantly as customers’ condence in the system has rebounded.NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO15PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP1.3. A GovernmentMachinery That Works/ Digitising GovernmentServicesNEW PATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENT IN FREEDOM17
1.3. A Government Machinery That Works/ Digitising Government ServicesNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR19.National IdenticationCard Scheme1. The scheme, which is being implemented, enablesidentication of Ghanaian residents, both nationalsand foreigners, through a unique number, and isdesigned to become the anchor, by integrating withother databases, for formalising the economy2. So far over 14 million people have been registered.Majority of residents are expected to haveregistered by the end of 202020.National Digital AddressSystem:1. The National Digital Address System was launchedin 2018. Every property in Ghana is now identiedby a digital address. GhanaPost, Municipal andDistrict Assemblies, and the Land and Spatial Use Authority, are working together to generate uniquedigital and street addresses for every property,residential and commercial, in Ghana. This processwill be completed in 2020, along with the start ofthe process of placing on each property, it’s uniqueplated digital and street address which will becompleted in 20212. Its integration into the National EmergencyCommand Centre system is also enablingemergency services locate people who needservices21.Digital driver’s licenceand vehicle registrationby the Driver and VehicleLicensing Authority(DVLA)Digital drivers’ licence and digital vehicle registrationhave been implemented22.Online application forPassportsImplementedNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO18PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.3. A Government Machinery That Works/ Digitising Government ServicesNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR23.Paperless Port SystemWe promised to:1. automate the processfor clearing goodsand vehicles, and2. reform andbenchmark portclearing systems tomake them ecientto support import andexport trade This has been implemented under the PaperlessPort Project under which we have eliminatedthe Customs Long Room which had become abottleneck, streamlined inspections, enhancedenforcement, and resulted in the faster turnaroundtime in the clearing of goods24.Digitisation of the renewalof National HealthInsurance Scheme (NHIS)MembershipImplemented. All NHIS members can now renew theirmembership using their mobile phones25.Digitisation of the Birthsand Deaths RegistryOngoing. It is now 80% complete26.Mobile Money PaymentsInteroperability SystemImplemented. The rst of its kind in Africa, whichenables interoperability between bank accounts,e-Zwich accounts, and mobile wallets across allbanks and telcos, it is a major step towards nancialinclusion and cashless payments for services27.Digitisation of theNational Lotteries AuthorityImplemented a digitised, short-code mode ofaccessing the services of the National Lotteries Authority28.Digitisation of theprocess of obtaining aconstruction permit fromthe MMDAsDeployed a Construction Permit platform at AccraMetropolitan Assembly and Tema Metropolitan Assembly to automate the permit processes at the Assembly level. The system enables citizens submitpermit applications digitally/online and has helpedreduce permit issuance turnaround time from 90 to 30daysNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO19PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
1.3. A Government Machinery That Works/ Digitising Government ServicesNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR29.Automated and digitisedthe Business OperatingPermit (BoP) and licenseprocessing1. Implemented in 29 MMDAs in the Greater AccraRegion, resulting in the reduction of cost andturnaround time2. The system has been integrated with thee-services platform of the Registrar General’sDepartment and this enables the 29 MMDAsidentify all new businesses in their jurisdictions30.A Universal QR CodePayments SystemRollout has started. This makes it possible for retailersto receive payments on their mobile phones withoutthe need for a traditional Point of Sale device. Ghanais the only country in Africa, and one of the few in theworld, with a Universal QR CODE payment system31.Digital reforms in courtsadministration1. E-Justice System for online ling processes2. Electronic Case Tracking System to enableelectronic tracking of cases, and3. Electronic Case Distribution system for fair,equitable and transparent distribution of casesamong judges32.Digitised ProcurementPlatform for the PublicProcurement AuthorityImplemented an e-Procurement platform whichdigitises the procurement processes for the publicsector. This also includes the Common User AveragePrice List, which makes pricing for goods and servicestransparent33.Digitised motor insurancedatabaseImplemented. To eliminate fake insurance certicates,while enabling the police and commuters check theinsurance status of a vehicle through their mobilephones34.Ghana.Gov Platformto allow MDAs to oerdigitised services tocitizens from a singleportalBeing piloted with 15 MDAs. All MDAs will eventuallybe on-boarded on the platform. Ghana.gov enablespayment for all government services digitally.Implementation of Ghana.gov is expected to increasegovernment revenue by at least 50%35.Electricity Company ofGhana (ECG) AppThis currently allows about 2.8 million ECG customersto buy units for their meters through their mobilephone at any time of the day or night. 100% of ECGcustomers will be covered by the end of 2020NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO20PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.3. A Government Machinery That Works/ Digitising Government ServicesNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR36.On-line ling of TaxesImplemented in 201937.Streamlining of pensionsprocessingPensions applications are now processed within twoweeks38.Digitisation of PublicSector Health FacilitiesPatient Records Management Systems (E-HEALTHSOLUTION) introduced to completely digitise and linkall facilities within the health sector nationwideNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO21PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP1.4. Trade and IndustryNEW PATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENT IN FREEDOM23
1.4. Trade and IndustryNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR39.Develop and implementa comprehensive,project-based exportdiversication action planThe National Export Development Strategy has beendrafted and approved40.Restructure GhanaExport Promotion Authority to enhanceexport diversicationGEPA has restructured its policies to focus onsupporting Non-Traditional Exports (NTEs)41.Restructure Micronanceand Small Loans Centre(MASLOC) to providecredit for SMEs insteadof using it for politicalpatronageMASLOC, working in concert with key stakeholders,has established 216 District Oces across the countryand has established an eective internal controland audit systems to ensure only credit-worthyand viable businesses are supported, not politicalaliates. From 2017 to 2019, MASLOC has disbursedGH¢99,302,484 in microloans to 97,876 beneciaries,project and small loans of GH¢11,438,800 to 293beneciaries, and allocated 140 tricycles and 291vehicles to beneciaries42.1. Develop a database ofthe labour market witha view to establishinga National ApprenticeRecruitment Agency/Establish the NationalRecruitment Agencyas primary sourcefor channelling job openings toGhanaians2. Develop a databaseof trained apprenticesand artisans3. Establishapprenticeship andskills developmentcentres to trainskilled labour forcefor specic industrialsectors1. This has been implemented through YEA’s Job-Matching Centres and the creation of an Artisans’Directory2. Government has also created a web-basedproduct gallery – www.ghanatrade.com.gh – whichallows SMEs to showcase their productsNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO24PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.4. Trade and IndustryNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR4. Create an informationportal and set upa task force toassist artisans inshowcasing their work43.Launch NationalEntrepreneurship andInnovation Plan (NEIP)to support start-up andyoung businessesNEIP’s programmes, including funding for youngentrepreneurs, are being implemented. Sinceinception, 19,000 start-ups have been trained and4,350 of them funded to create 92,000 direct andindirect jobs44.Support local airlines andentrepreneurs to set upstrong private airlines A supportive investment climate, including the removalof VAT on domestic ight tickets, has seen privateinvestments in the sector, including that of Passion Air. The attainment by the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) of certication of Quality ManagementSystem (QMS), ISO 9001, 2015, when implemented atKotoka, Kumasi and Tamale Airports, and the rankingof Kotoka by the Airport Council International (ACI)as 1st in West Africa and 4th in Africa in 2019, willattract many more airlines and position Ghana as theRegional Aviation Hub45.Work with the privatesector to establish agro-processing industriesand manufacturingplants in the NorthernDevelopment Authority(NDA) areaWatermelon, Sheanut, Millet, Rice, Maize, Groundnuts,and Yam Processing Factories are being constructedin the Northern Development Authority area amongothers46.Re-orient energy taripolicy to reduce theburden on businesses(Reduce electricity tarisfor businesses)In March 2018, PURC eected 17.5% reduction intaris for residential consumers whilst non-residentialconsumers experienced 30% reduction in taris.The Special Load Tari (LV, MV and HV) customersexperienced 25% reduction in taris whilst the minescategory experienced 10% reduction in taris. Thoughtaris were marginally increased in 2019, the net eectwas an 11% reduction in power taris for consumersNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO25PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
1.4. Trade and IndustryNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR47.Implement Policy toReduce Cost of doingbusiness1. The overall macroeconomic stability, reducedaverage lending rates, reduced energy costs,reduced import costs through the 50% reductionin benchmark values, as well as the abolishment ofvarious other taxes, have helped to reduce the costof doing business2. Government is also implementing the BusinessRegulatory Reforms (BRR), which will improve thebusiness environment, and also reduce costs48.Develop NationalIndustrial Sub-Contracting Exchangeto link SMEs with largescale enterprises An Industrial Sub-Contracting and PartnershipExchange (SPX) is being implemented as part of ourIndustrial Policy. A portal is being created to link SMEand large companies and AGI, GNCCI and otherbusiness associations have been engaged to speedup enrolment49.Facilitate dedicatedlands for developmentof industrial parks andenclaves as well asenterprise free zonesGovernment has made available US$78M for last-mile support services to Industrial Parks and relatedactivities50.Develop modern marketsand retail infrastructure inevery district69 markets have been completed with 63 ongoing51.Support theestablishmentof recycling andreprocessing companiesto manage industrialwaste as raw materialsfor other industriesGovernment is promoting the establishment ofrecycling and processing plants under the One DistrictOne Factory (1D1F) initiative52.Encourage FDIs intoLabour-Intensive sectorsGovernment has promoted the establishment of large-scale, labour-intensive industrial projects, particularlyin the Garment and Textile sectorNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO26PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.4. Trade and IndustryNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR53.Develop and implementin collaboration with theMinistry of Agriculture,a programme of actionfor the productionand supply of qualityagricultural raw materialsfor industryThis is being implemented through linkages between“Planting for Food and Jobs” and “One District, OneFactory” initiatives54.“Strategic AnchorIndustries”: Governmentwill partner private localand foreign investorsto develop large scalestrategic anchorindustries to serve asgrowth poles for theeconomy1. Under this, Government is promoting theestablishment of Industrial Starch, Sugar, Automotive and Pharmaceutical Industries. Thisis being complemented by the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) andthe Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel DevelopmentCorporation (GIISDEC)2. The Policy on Automotive Development isattracting investments from global brands such asToyota, Volkswagen, Nissan, Renault, and Hyundai.The Policy also supports the local Kantanka Group3. Already, six dierent brands have started rolling othe VW Assembly Plant in Ghana, namely Amarok,Caddy, Passat, Polo, Teramont, and Tiguan.Sinotruk has also commenced assembling a varietyof trucks in Ghana and Kantanka has been grantedtax incentives and a license to continue its autoassembly operations under the Ghana AutomotiveManufacturing Development Policy55.Realign the focus ofGhana InvestmentPromotion Centre toattract investmentsinto selected strategicindustries A restructured and realigned GIPC has led to Ghanabeing the destination of choice for Foreign DirectInvestments (FDI) in West Africa according to the 2019World Investment Report by UNCTAD56.Merge National Board forSmall Scale Industries(NBSSI) and RuralEnterprises Project (REP)to consolidate publicresources An Enterprise Ghana Agency (EGA) Bill has beendrafted to repeal the Act establishing NBSSI, andreplace it with the EGA. In addition, the RuralEnterprises Programme will be absorbed into the EGA NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO28PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.4. Trade and IndustryNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR57.Establish the GhanaInternational TradeCommissionThe Ghana International Trade Commission (GITC) hasbeen established and fully operationalised, with two(2) critical Legislative Instruments enacted on Anti-Dumping and Customs Valuation (Dispute Settlement)Regulations. The Commission has commencedhearing of petitions on unfair trade practices58.In collaboration withthe private sector,implement the “OneDistrict, One Factory”initiative: (Establishmentof at least one mediumto large scale factoryor enterprise in eachDistrict.)Being implemented. 76 1D1F companies are inoperation. Of these, 28 are new and 48 are existingcompanies that have taken advantage of theprogramme to expand. 12 of these companies havereceived approval for import duty exemptions to thevalue of GH¢34 million. Many pipeline projects fundedby the banks are also ready to commence. In all, wehave 232 factories at various stages of implementation(See Maps below)NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO29PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
A. “ONE DISTRICT, ONE FACTORY” FACTORIES:CURRENTLY IN OPERATION1. NEW FACTORIES28 Companies as of July 18, 2020NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO30PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
2. EXISTING FACTORIES OPERATING AS 1D1F48 Companies as of July 18, 2020NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO31PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
B. “ONE DISTRICT, ONE FACTORY” FACTORIES:CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION1. NEW FACTORIES13 Companies as of July 18, 2020NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO32PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
2. NEW 1D1F PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT EXISTING FACTORIES31 Companies as of July 18, 2020NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO33PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
C. “ONE DISTRICT, ONE FACTORY”FACTORIES:SPECIAL INITIATIVE FACTORIES CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION1. NEW: “ENABLE YOUTH 1D1F” PROJECT58 Companies as of July 18, 2020NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO34PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
NEW: “COMMON USER PROCESSING FACTORIES”5 Companies as of July 18, 2020NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO35PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
D. “ONE DISTRICT, ONE FACTORY” FACTORIES:PIPELINE PROJECTS1. NEW: FUNDED BY PRIVATE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS36 Companies as of July 18, 2020NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO36PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
2. NEW: FUNDED BY GOVERNMENT OF GHANA 6 Companies as of July 18, 2020NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO37PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
3. UNDER EXISTING FACTORIES7 Companies as of July 18, 2020NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO38PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP1.5. Agriculture and RuralDevelopmentNEW PATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENT IN FREEDOM41
1.5. Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR59.Ensure farming inputsare available in farmingcommunities and ataordable pricesBeing executed through the ve modules of “Plantingfor Food and Jobs (PFJ).” These are: “Rearing forFood and Jobs (RFJ)”, “Planting for Exports and RuralDevelopment (PERD)”, the Food Crops component,Greenhouse Villages, and Agricultural MechanisationCentres60.1. Revive the Grainsand LegumesDevelopment Board,and2. Support private seedgrowers to increasesupply of improvedseeds to farmers1. The Board has been resourced to supplyfoundation and breeder seeds to seed producersto support the “Planting for Food and Jobsinitiative,” leading to accelerated growth of grainproduction in Ghana. Under PERD, in 2018and 2019, 14 million seedlings were raised anddistributed to 65,474 farmers (26% of whom werefemale) and planted in 69,792 hectares2. We have provided machinery and foundationseeds, through the Grains and LegumesDevelopment Board, to 15 farmer groups as wellas to research institutions. As a result, foundationseed production increased from 24MT in 2016 to473.5MT in 2019 as follows: 2016 – 24.0MT 2017 – 89.61MT 2018 – 267.34MT 2019 – 473.5MTIn addition, certied seed production increased from4,400MT in 2016 to 18,500MT in 2019 for all seeds61.Reintroducecompensation paymentsunder the cocoa diseasecontrol programmeUnder this programme, compensation paymentshave been made to cocoa farmers in Western North,Western, Bono, Ahafo and Ashanti Regions62.Expand local processingof cocoaLocal processing of cocoa has increased from 27%to 40% currently. There are also plans to establishindigenous processing factories. WAMCO is also nowoperationalNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO42PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.5. Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR63.Promote cattle ranchingand facilitate landacquisition for itsdevelopmentOngoing in Wawase in the Afram Plains, and also Accra Plains (Around Juapong)64.Provide patrol boats topolice foreign shingvesselsFor the rst time, the Navy has been supplied with fourpatrol boats, and the Police Marine Unit with two, toenhance security along Ghana’s territorial waters65.Place sherfolk directlyin charge of subsidisedinputs at local outletsThe reconstituted pre-mix fuel distribution committeesat the landing sites doubles up as the channel fordistribution of inputs66.Encourage local poultrymeat processing3 dormant factories have been revamped and are inoperation (Darko Farms in Kumasi, Aglow Farms inCape Coast, and Asamoah and Yamoah Farms inKumasi). In addition, the “Rearing for Food and Jobs(RFJ)” Programme is being implemented67.Support accelerateddevelopment of selectedproducts includinggrains, vegetables, fruits,tubers, oil palm, cotton,shea, cashew, cocoa,horticulture, livestock,sheries and poultryThis is being executed under the “Aquaculture forFood and Jobs (AFJ)”, “Planting for Food and Jobs(PFJ)” and the “Rearing for Food and Jobs (RFJ)”initiatives. Under RFJ, 30,000 cockerels have beendistributed to 3,000 farmers in selected regions forcrossing with local hens to improve weight and egg-laying rate. A total of 7,500 small ruminants werealso distributed to 750 farmers. A further 531,100improved breeds of livestock and poultry species willbe distributed by the end of the year68.Increase subsidies onretail prices of seeds,fertilisers and otheragrochemicalsIs being implemented under the “Planting for Foodand Jobs” Initiative through a 50% subsidy on seedsand fertilisersNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO43PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
1.5. Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR69.Support selectedproducts with storage,transportation, marketingand distribution1. Is being executed through the “One District, OneWarehouse” initiative. 102 warehouses are underconstruction of which 28 have been completed. 74ongoing2. Under the “Planting for Food and Jobs”Programmes, the Ghana Commodity Exchangehas been established and the National Food BuerStock Company (NAFCO) has been reactivated.NAFCO, which had stopped operations in2015, has been reactivated and is central to keyGovernment initiatives like the School FeedingProgramme, “One District, One Warehouse,”“Planting for Food and Jobs,” and the operation ofthe Ghana Commodity Exchange70.Improve fertiliserdistributionMore distribution agents have been deployed, andthe entire process is in the process of being digitised.From 2017 to the rst half of 2020, we have distributed919,193 MT of fertiliser (organic and inorganic) tofarmers71.Work to achieve theUN-Recommended 1Extension Ocer to 500FarmersGovernment has recruited 2,700 Extension Ocers,and will continue72.Have discussions withBurkina Faso for a morecontrolled spillage of theBagre damGhana has concluded discussions with Burkina Faso,and modalities for controlled spillage have beenagreed and in force. An Inter-Ministerial Committeehas implemented the dredging of the White and BlackVolta and their tributaries, which cause the perennialooding73.Establish a GhanaCommodity ExchangeThe Ghana Commodity Exchange has beenestablished and in operation74.Revive agriculturalresearch at CSIR andfaculties in publicuniversitiesNew varieties of sweet potato have been introduced,while research on coconut and palm is ongoing. Inaddition, we have established a West Africa Centrefor Water, Irrigation and Sustainable Agriculture(WACWISA) at the University for Development Studiesto augment agricultural researchNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO44PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.5. Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR75.Provide a framework forsmallholder farmers toundertake block farmingand providing incentives,including land banks, forlarge scale commercialfarm investorsOngoing, including for rice farmers in Nasia-Nabogu,Fumbisi and New Edubiase, under the Youth-In- Agriculture Programme, which is now functioningunder the UN-Sponsored GASIP Project76.Ensure cocoa farmersreceive:• increased producerprices plus bonusesto encourage highproduction volumes• stable prices/ protected againstexchange rate eects1. We have increased producer prices for cocoafarmers 2. With the Living Income Dierential (LID) underthe Ghana-Cote D’Ivoire Co-Operation, cocoafarmers will be earning additional income through aUS$400 per tonne premium on the world price forcocoa77.Ensure availability aswell as eective andtransparent distribution ofpre-mixed (Premix) fuelThe Premix Committees have been reconstituted.It now includes Fishermen who also head theCommittees. There is also an ongoing project todigitise the distribution of premix78. Accelerate aquacultureand promote extensivesh farming throughoutthe countryGovernment is piloting an initiative dubbed“Aquaculture for Food and Jobs” to support shfarmers79.Support private sector toexpand local productionof poultry feed andveterinary productsThe private sector is being supported with workingcapital through the Agricultural Development Bank(ADB) to produce feeds locally. With the substantialincrease in soya production, Ghana will eventuallystop the importation of soya meal for poultry feedsproduction80.Facilitate access to creditfor poultry industrySecured US$37 million from the African DevelopmentBank (AfDB) for the development of commercialpoultry farming in the Savannah and NorthernRegions. Also under the Ghana Incentive-Based RiskSharing System for Agricultural Lending (GIRSAL)Programme, the poultry industry is being supported. ADB is currently implementing a lending programmealong the entire value-chain of the sub-sectorNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO45PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
1.5. Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR81.Institute anti-dumpingmeasures on poultry A permit system has been introduced to regulate theimportation of poultry products82.Use governmentpurchasing power tocreate demand for locally-produced food itemsThis is being done through the Buer Stock Companyfor the School Feeding Programme, as well assupplies to Senior High Schools83.Develop capacity forlocal fertiliser productionusing gas and petroleumresourcesFeasibility, land acquisition, and soil tests completed.Construction is scheduled to commence next year,202184.Provide mechanismto capture the waterreleased by the annualspillage at Bagre Dam,and use for irrigationpurposesThis forms part of the Pwalugu Irrigation Project,which was launched in 2019. Dredging along thecatchment area was initiated in 2019, and desilting isexpected every other year85.Implement “One Village,One Dam” community-owned/managed irrigationpolicy & rehabilitateexisting public irrigationschemes (Vea especially)and develop new ones inthe North & Afram PlainsWe are implementing a holistic plan to provide farmersand households, especially in the North, access towater all year round. This infrastructure plan has twocomponents:1. Small-Earth Dams: for water storage, irrigation, andlivestock. This is the largest stock of such small-earth dams provided since independence. 439small-earth dams are under construction. 375 havebeen completed, and 64 are between 90-100%complete. Each dam provides water for up to ve(5) hectares2. Large-Scale Dams:- Tono has been rehabilitated and rehabilitationprojects on both the left and right banks of Kpongare in progress.NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO46PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.5. Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR – Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam: the project is thesingle biggest irrigation project in Ghana, andsingle largest infrastructure investment in NorthernGhana since independence. The project, which isongoing, when completed, will add about 24,000hectares of irrigated land to the current nationaltotal of 13,000, trebling the total. Together, we are revolutionising the irrigationsector. No government since independence hasbrought as much land under irrigation in Ghana(and the North for that matter) as the NPP is doingwith the Pwalugu Dam.86.Enforce the sheriesmanagement policies inthe Fisheries Act of 2002(Act 625) to stop pairtrawling and other illegalshing methodsThe Fisheries Law Enforcement Unit has conductedover 550 observer missions and intensied sea andland patrols as part of an enforcement regime87.Establish LivestockDevelopment Centres inthe three agro-climaticzones11 Livestock Development Centres are beingestablished across the country, as part of an AfDBFacility under the “Rearing for Food and Jobs”Programme, in Dorba, Navrongo, Babile, Bussa, Ejura,Kintampo, Nkwanta, Amrahia, Nungua, Pong-Tamale,and Paga88.Facilitate stakeholder-controlled establishmentof the Cashew Marketing Authority A Ghana Tree Crops Development Authority(GTCDA) has been established to regulate andcreate a conducive environment for the growing anddevelopment of tree and industrial crops in Ghana(similar to COCOBOD) for Cashew, Coee, Coconut,Oil Palm, Mango, Rubber and SheaNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO47PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
1.5. Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR89.Revamp existingmechanisation centresand support the privatesector to establish,manage, and provideaordable mechanisationservices to farmersTo date, we have procured and supplied thefollowing machinery and equipment to selectedMMDAs to establish Agricultural MechanisationServices and Enterprises Centres [AMSECs] and toprovide aordable mechanised services within theircommunities, Agricultural Educational Institutions(including KNUST & CSIR) to support research andtraining, Commercial Farmers, and to Individual/ Subsistence Farmers:1. 450 tractors with matching accessories (Ploughs,Harrows and Trailers)2. 300 mini tractors with matching accessories3. 400 Maize shellers4. 570 Planters (Pneumatic, Mechanical & 1 Rowplanters)5. 100 Greenhouses6. 300 Irrigation kits7. 1,000 Power Tillers with matching accessories(including 1,000 1.5ton trailers and 1,000 RotaryTillers)8. 30 Tractor-Mounted Combined Cereal Harvesters9. 4,220 Sprayers for food and tree cropsmanagement and protection10. 1,120 Rice Harvesters11. 20 Drying Silos12. 4 Solar-Powered Rice and Maize Mills13. 820 Threshers, and14. 2,360 other equipment and accessories, includingslashers, furrow openers, seedbed makers,weeding wheels, levelling wheels, ploughs, andblade levellers.90.Upgrade the roadinfrastructure connectingfarming communities tomarketing centersBeing executed under Cocoa Roads projects, as wellas the Rural Roads – Farm Access Roads project,funded by the EU with US$32 million.NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO48PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.5. Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR91.Increase local productionof food to enhance foodsecurity• The success of PFJ has led to increased farmerparticipation from 202,000 in 2017 to 1.2 million in2019• PFJ has led to an increase in the nationalproduction of maize by 71% (from 1.7 million MT in2016 to 2.9 million MT in 2019) and of paddy riceby 34% (from 688,000 MT in 2016 to 925,000 MTin 2019)• Additionally, PFJ has led to yields of maize, rice,and soybean, increasing by 131%, 59%, and 69%respectively• Despite the increase in per capita consumptionof rice from 35kg/per person in 2016 to 55kg/perperson in 2019, Ghana has attained 50% self-suciency in rice production and it is targeted toattain full self-suciency by 2023• Under Planting for Food and Jobs, Ghana isnot only self-sucient in maize production, butexporting 19 food items, including maize, to therest of ECOWAS countries. These exports haveincreased by 56.6% between 2016 and 2019, from85,000 MT to 133,145 MT• The Global Food Security Index, which measuresaordability, availability and quality of food across113 countries, placed Ghana in 59th position in2019 up from 79th position in 2018. The sameIndex placed Ghana in 3rd position in Sub-Saharan Africa after South Africa and BotswanaNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO49PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP1.6. EducationNEW PATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENT IN FREEDOM51
1.6. EducationNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR92.Encourage the Collegesof Education to updatetheir curricula toensure they producegraduates that wouldteach the well-equippedand critical thinkingpopulation we needto move the countryforwardCurricula developed. Colleges now run 4-YearBachelor of Education programmes. Teacher traineeswill now graduate with Bachelor’s degrees, and willnot need to take study leave to go back to acquire thedegree93.Undertake a nationalaudit of skills andcompetencies in abid to align trainingopportunities andresources to respond tonational and local humanresource demandsThe national audit of skills has been completed bythe Council for Technical and Vocational EducationTraining (COTVET)94.Develop an onlineeducational platform tohost, stream, and shareshort videos of mini-lectures to classroomsor oces around thecountryE-Learning portal developed (www.icampusgh.com)and includes all SHS 1-3 core subjects. The websiteis live95.Ensure properdecentralisation ofteacher recruitment andmanagementTeacher recruitment since 2017 is now done atregional levels. Documentation done at District andRegional levels96.Restore Teacher Traineetraining allowanceRestored97.Restore allowancespaid to Arabic/Islamicinstructors under thenational volunteerservice programmeRestoredNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO52PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.6. EducationNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR98.Restore book andresearch allowances forlecturersWe have not only restored it: we have increased it by200%99.Introduce History ofGhana as a subject forprimary schoolsIncluded in the Curriculum which has been approvedby Cabinet. Over 180 Master Trainers, 3,900 District-level Trainers, and 152,000 teachers have beentrained for this purpose100.Integrate school sportsas part of schoolactivitiesFree PE kits are being provided to students under theFree SHS programme101.Abolish the payment ofutility bills by studentsImplemented. The Tertiary Education Policy abolishedthe payment of utility bills in tertiary Institutions102.Redene basic educationfrom Kindergarten toinclude SHS, coveringvocational, agriculturaland technical schoolsImplemented103.Implement the “FreeSHS” Policy (on aUniversal Basis)Implemented. The current enrolment stands at1,199,750 students from 2017 to 2019. This is notlimited to arts, business, and science subjects: it alsocovers Technical, Vocational and Education Training(TVET), in essence, the initiative is “Free SHS andTVET.” 52.1% of all these students are male and47.9% female.104.Absorb BECE andWASSCE examinationfees• BECE examination fees absorbed in 2018• WASSCE examination fees absorbed in 2020105.Increase amount of loansunder the Student LoanSchemeThe loan amount has been increased by 50% andranges between GHc1,500 and GHc3,000106.Establish amanufacturing plant atKNUSTFunding secured for two foundries, and sod has beencut for the commencement of a machine tool centreto be constructed in KumasiNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO54PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.6. EducationNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR107.Strengthen and equipthe Inspectorate Board,as an independent body,to enable it carry out itsinspection mandateThe National Inspectorate Board has beenoperationalised, staed, and provided withinfrastructural and technical support to enable it carryout its mandate. With these resources, the NationalInspectorate Board has been able to digitise its datacollection system, built a secure and comprehensivedatabase for schools’ inspection and trained a teamof inspectors108.Provide eective andprofessional guidanceand counselling servicesto pupilsManuals prepared for basic schools. 80% of SHSshave coordinators. Same is planned for all schools109.Strengthen theparticipation of Missionsin Mission-foundedschoolsFaith-Based Organisations (FBOs) engaged. MoUdrafted and under review110.Ensure that Kindergartenplaces are available forall four-year old childrenin the countryConstruction of 163 Kindergartens awarded out ofwhich 77 have been completed to date111.Ensure teacherswho upgrade theirqualications andskills are promotedpromptly and theirsalary increases takeimmediate eectPreviously, teachers who upgraded their qualicationsand skills were not recognised and promoted on time.There were several years of bureaucratic delays. Dueto our reforms, now:• the waiting period before promotion of teacherswho upgrade their qualications and skills is nowhalved to 2 years. Waiting period for all others is 4Years• for the rst time in history, teachers are being paida professional teachers allowanceNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO55PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
1.6. EducationNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR112.Reactivate the originalaim of linking Technical/ Vocational Institutionsto Technical Universitiesto refocus technicaleducation at the forefrontof the One District, OneFactory programme1. TVET Qualication Framework developed2. 80 institutions accredited to run Competency-Based Training (CBT) programmes3. Engaging Technical Universities to run CBTs4. To support TVET education, we are building 32state-of-the-art TVET centres, and5. We have introduced a Basic STEM (B-STEM)programme to provide science labs in all basicschools to enhance the teaching of STEM subjectsfrom an early age.113.Ensure that all teachershave ICT competenceICT is now compulsory in all Teacher TrainingColleges114.Introduce programmingat the Junior and SeniorHigh schools1. To date 313,250 basic school students have beenintroduced to basic coding2. Coding introduced at 25 SHSs and equipmentsupplies in progress115.Provide appropriate andadequate infrastructureand learning facilitiesto accommodateexpansion and ensureconducive teaching,learning, and research intertiary institutions1. A US$1.5B loan, of which US$500M has beendisbursed, has been secured on the back of GETFundto develop educational infrastructure. Massiveinfrastructure development across educationalinstitutions currently ongoing2. We have completed the construction andcommissioning of Phase I of the Somanya campusof the University of Environment and SustainableDevelopment (UESD) for which a sod was hurriedlycut in December 2016 by the outgoing Mahama-led NDC Government. In addition, we have securedfunding for Phase II of the campus and cut sod forconstruction to commence116.Collaborate with GNAT,NAGRAT, and others tofacilitate an aordablehousing scheme forteachers An agreement has been reached between UNOPSand the Government to construct 100,000 housingunits for teachers and other education professionalsNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO56PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.6. EducationNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR117.Leverage technology topopularise the teachingof mathematics andscienceTechnology has been incorporated in the curriculumand technology rms have been engaged to assist indelivery. iBox education portal installed in 125 SeniorHigh Schools118.Collaborate with theprivate sector to providefree WiFi coverageto senior secondaryschools and tertiaryinstitutionsContract awarded to provide free Wi-Fi connectivityto all 722 SHSs, 46 Colleges of Education (CoEs), 16Regional Oces, and 260 District Education Oces119.Establish fund forresearch and innovationResearch & Innovation Fund Bill gazetted. Will be laidbefore Parliament120.Introduce Arabic as anoptional language to betaught and examined atthe JHS and SHS levelsHas been included in the ongoing JHS and SHSCurriculum review. When completed, Arabic will beintroduced as an optional subject121.Wherever possible,provide facilities toenable disabled childrento be integrated withinregular schoolsInclusive Education Policy adopted, and teachertraining curricula covers inclusive education122.Popularise the teachingof French and improvethe delivery of thesubject22 Bilingual Schools established, 6 Colleges ofEducation equipped with French Labs & ResourceCentres, 54 SHSs equipped with French LanguageResource Centres, and Primary 4-6 French LanguageCurriculum developed123.Improve ICT facilitiesand curriculum of ICTCurriculum approved and rolled out. Discussionsongoing for distribution of tablets to JHS and SHSstudents124.Expand the network oflibrariesUnder an ongoing programme, we have expandedthe network of libraries from 61 to 72 as at March2020, and have renovated over 50% of the existinglibraries. We have also rolled out a digital platform foraccessing library contentNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO57PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
1.6. EducationNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR125.Abolish the 3-month paypolicy of the NDCWe abandoned the three-month pay policy weinherited for newly-recruited teachers, and havecleared the legacy arrears126.Clear the backlogof promotions andintroduce new promotionexam for transparencyThe period of staying on a grade before considerationfor promotion for teachers who upgrade theirqualications and skills is now halved to two years.127.Build Science,Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths CentresWe are constructing 20 Science, Technology,Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) centresacross the country128.Increase the capitationgrantWe have increased capitation grant by 122% fromGH¢4.5 per pupil to GH¢10 per pupil for PrimarySchools129.Provide Buses andvehicles for Senior HighSchoolsGovernment has procured 1,190 vehicles to SeniorHigh Schools made up of 350 buses and 840 pickups130.Investment of $219maimed at improvinglearning outcomes in ourmost underperformingschools under theGhana Accountabilityfor Learning OutcomesProject (GALOP)Under this project:1. 2.3 million children in 260 Districts will benet2. 70,000+ out of school children targeted to bebrought back on track3. 76,000 teachers’ capacity training in newcurriculum and teaching methods4. School management committees to be trained ineective school management5. School heads trained in instructional leadershipand accountability6. Circuit Supervisors will become SchoolImprovement Ocers, and7. 10,000 schools have been selected for the rstphaseNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO58PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP1.7. HealthNEW PATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENT IN FREEDOM61
1.7. HealthNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR131.Restore Nurse Trainees’training allowancesRestored132.Facilitate the earlyplacement of trainednurses, public healthpersonnel, and teachersdenied employment bythe NDC All nurses denied engagement by the NDC have beenplaced133.Provide free SpecialistPost-Graduate trainingFree Specialist Post-Graduate medical trainingcommenced in the 2018/19 academic year134.Strengthen the National Ambulance ServiceOver 300 Ambulances supplied to the National Ambulance Authority (NAS), one in everyConstituency, under the “One-Constituency, One Ambulance” initiative. NAS has also been providedwith a state of the art, digitised Command Centre toeld emergency calls and to dispatch ambulances135.Establish Centres forCancers and cover thecost under NHISBreast Cancer is already covered by the Scheme.Herceptin, the expensive cancer drug, has now alsobeen added and is paid for by the NHIS136.Expand and equipmedical schools to trainmore medical doctorsThe Ho Regional Hospital has been converted into aTeaching Hospital137.Collaborate withthe private sector toestablish wellness clinicsThis is being piloted with GIZ, under which wellnessclinics are being set up within the Dodowa, Legon,and Tema Hospitals138.Rescue, Restructure,and Increase Budgetary Allocation to the NationalHealth InsuranceScheme (NHIS)1. NHIS has undergone restructuring, includingdigital/mobile membership renewal and real timedata authentication. Members increased from 10.6million to 12.2 million2. NHIS arrears have been reduced from 12 monthsto 3 months making the scheme sustainable139Pass LegislativeInstrument for theimplementation of theMental Health ActMental Health Legislative Regulations, 2019 (LI 2385)have been brought into eect140.Implement nationalepidemic responsesystemElectronic System for Early Detection has beenestablishedNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO62PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.7. HealthNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR141.Upgrade all existingdistrict hospitals wherethey exist, and wherethey do not, establishone1. Ga East District Hospital has been completed andcommissioned while 10 polyclinics have beencompleted and commissioned in the CentralRegion2. Construction of 5 District Hospitals in Sawla,Tolon, Somanya, Buipe and Wheta, and aPolyclinic in Bamboi are ongoing3. We have begun the process to construct 101hospitals with accommodation for doctors andnurses in Districts without hospitals across theregions4. Construction of a District Hospital at Obuasi, Anyinam Trauma Hospital and Rehabilitationof Enyiresi Government Hospital have beencompleted142.Introduce Drones in thedistribution of blood andmedicinesFour medical drone centres established andoperational in Omenako, Mampong, Walewale andSefwi Wiawso. As at the end of June, 2020, 79,800medical products have been delivered to 945 healthfacilities of the service range of the drone centres. Inaddition, it has delivered over 2,500 CoVID samplesto testing centres in Accra (Noguchi) and Kumasi(KCCR)143.Enhanced treatment ofSickle cell diseaseIn collaboration with NOVARTIS, we are makingavailable a new drug, Hydroxyurea, which waspreviously only available in developed countries, tosickle cell patients in Ghana. This is a game changerin the treatment of sickle cellNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO63PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP1.8. Social DevelopmentNEW PATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENT IN FREEDOM65
1.8. Social DevelopmentNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR144.Require caterers ofthe School FeedingProgramme to usefoodstu from localfarmersPursuant to a Cabinet directive, caterers use localfoodstu under the School Feeding Programme.Training has been provided to 8,317 caterers andHead Cooks on sourcing locally145.Expand the SchoolFeeding ProgrammeWe increased the number of beneciary pupils underthe Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP)from 1,671,766 in 2016 to 2,980,000, beneciaries,representing an increase of 78.3%. We have alsoincreased the feeding grant from the 0.80 pesewas perchild per school-going day inherited in 2017 to GH¢1.0since 2018146.Properly sta andresource the NationalCouncil on PersonsLiving With Disability(PLWD) An Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee ondecentralisation, and the Oce of the Head of LocalGovernment Service, have been charged to ensurethat disability issues are mainstreamed into MMDAsbudgets147.Undertakecomprehensive review ofSSNIT’s investments andcosts to ensure nancialsustainabilitySSNIT has conducted a comprehensive review ofits portfolio of investments, as well as its actuarialliabilities, and is taking active measures to ensurenancial sustainability148.Work with District Assemblies to exemptKayayei from market tollsKayayei have been exempted from market tolls149.Introduce a DistrictIntegrated SocialServices Programmeto consolidate socialservices A Social Protection Single Window Citizens Servicehas been established. The Service is designed toprovide a single-entry point for the major SocialProtection Programmes, namely: Ghana NationalSchool Feeding Programme; National HealthInsurance Scheme; Education Capitation Grant;Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty; and LabourIntensive Public Works150.Set aside 50% ofMASLOC funds forfemale applicants Approximately 80% of MASLOC Loans are disbursedto female applicantsNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO66PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.8. Social DevelopmentNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR151.Implement the increasein Common Funddisbursements toPersons Living WithDisability (PLWD) from2% to 3%Government has implemented the increase inCommon Fund disbursement to Persons Living WithDisability (PLWD) from 2% to 3%.152.Pay all outstandingcontributions to PensionFunds, including Tier 2Funds, for Public SectorWorkersGovernment has released GH¢3.1 billion in PublicSector Workers’ Tier 2 pensions contributionsthat were withheld for a long time by the previousadministration153.Decentralise the NationalCouncil on PersonsLiving With Disability(PLWD) An Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee ondecentralisation, and the Oce of the Head of LocalGovernment Service have been set up to ensurethat disability issues are mainstreamed into MMDAsbudgets154.Implement equalemployment opportunityfor, and empowerPersons Living WithDisability (PLWD)• The Disability Council in collaboration with theGhana Federation of Disability Organisation havedrafted an Equal Employment Policy that seeks toaddress disability employment issues. 50%% of alltoll booths are now manned by PLWD• Under the Presidential Empowerment forWomen Entrepreneurs with Disability (PEWED),we provided 850 female PLWD entrepreneurswith GH¢2 million to help them scale-up theirbusinesses Under the Presidential Empowerment for MaleEntrepreneurs with Disability (PEMED) an amountof GH¢2 million has been earmarked for 1,000male PLWD entrepreneurs to help them scale uptheir businesses• Through the Ghana Investment Fund for ElectronicCommunications (GIFEC), we provided studentsliving with disability in selected tertiary institutionswith assistive technology-enabled devices andtraining to promote their digital inclusionNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO67PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
1.8. Social DevelopmentNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR155.Refocus LEAPProgramme usingeective means-testing, regular monthlydisbursements, andtargeting female-headedhouseholds• Ghana National Household Registry Database usesa proxy means test and has been completed forparts of the country. Data collection, management,and analysis is ongoing. The GNHR data is beingused for targeting LEAP and NHIS beneciaries,and a data-sharing protocol for GNHR datawith CSOs, academia, governmental and Non-Governmental Agencies have been approved• The programme is currently implementing anelectronic reporting and monitoring system in 99Districts. The rest will be on-boarded by end of2020• In the rst half of 2020, 334,084 households(consisting of 1,451,656 individuals), were servedas beneciaries of LEAP, compared to 213,044households (consisting of 943,842 individuals)in 2016, representing a 53.8% increase inbeneciaries. We successfully also enrolled 73% ofthe beneciaries onto NHIS for free• 5,522 individuals under LEAP have been linked tosupport programmes and productive programmesdesigned to help them out of extreme poverty• All LEAP households have now been connected tonancial services through the e-payment (e-Zwich)platform156.Institute a PensionScheme for Cash CropFarmersScheme design is complete and approved. Cocobodand the NPRA are working out the implementationplan, and the scheme is scheduled to be launched in2021157.Protection of Children• We have established a National Adoption Authorityto coordinate in-country and inter-country adoptionof Children in Ghana to serve the best interests ofchildren• We have developed a national child protection toolkit and deployed it in over 1,300 communities inGhanaNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO68PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP1.9. Energy and PetroleumNEW PATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENT IN FREEDOM71
1.9. Energy and PetroleumNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR158.End DUMSOR, whichcost the Ghanaianeconomy an estimatedUS$680 million in 2014alone, translating intoabout 2% of GDPDone.159.Develop a 10-year PowerSector Master Plan tomeet medium- and long-term energy needsThe Integrated Power System Master Plan for Ghanawas developed in 2018 as the Master Plan for thepower sector160.Reduce taxes onelectricity taris tohouseholds and industryOur government is the rst in the history of the4th Republic to have reduced electricity prices incumulative terms of -11% compared to a cumulativeincrease of +265% under the Mahama-led NDCGovernment.161.Ensure that procurementof new power projectsis executed primarilythrough PPP and IPParrangements and aretransparent and resultingin least-cost additionof power generationinfrastructureDone. Two Policy Guidelines have been approved andare currently in force:1. Policy Guidelines for Least Cost Fuel Procurement,and2. Policy for Competitive Procurement of EnergySupply and Services Contracts3. Also, in line with the Least Cost Fuel ProcurementPolicy for power generation, the Karpowership wassuccessfully moved from Tema to Sekondi162.Ensure there is sucientReserve Margin to ensurestability of the systemGenerally, 20-25% of the total generation capacityshould be the available capacity. We now have35%. Even though we had excess capacity underthe previous Government, they were unable to fueland operate the plants and therefore they wereunavailable. Currently we are able to do soNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO72PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.9. Energy and PetroleumNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR163.Improve transparency inthe management of ouroil and gas resources1. We have passed the General PetroleumRegulations, which provided signicanttransparency reforms including a requirementto disclose benecial ownership information inPetroleum Agreements, and disclose marketingcontracts signed by GNPC, as well as CorporateSocial Responsibility projects2. We have established the National Register ofContracts/Register of Petroleum Agreements asprovided for by the Petroleum (Exploration andProduction) Act (2016), Act 919 which the NDCrefused to do, and3. We applied Open and Competitive Bidding for, andconducted Ghana’s rst open bidding round for, oilblocksThe Petroleum Register is atwww.ghanapetroleumregister.com164.Redeem governmentobligations to Bulk OilDistribution Companies(BDCs)On January 13, 2020, Government nalised allpayments in respect of the BDC debts. A total ofUS$1.003 billion was paid in full and nal settlement ofthe legacy debt165.Ensure eectiveimplementation ofthe petroleum pricederegulation policyThe National Petroleum Authority has been eectivein implementing petroleum price deregulation. Since2017, it has not intervened in the automatic pricedetermination mechanism, and continues to make useonly of the price stabilisation mechanisms provided bythe law166.Improve on the qualityof fuel produced orimported into Ghana byreviewing standards forsulphur content in thefuelsNPA has revised the sulphur content standardsfrom 3,000ppm to 50ppm (equivalent to EuropeanStandards), which are being currently implementedNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO73PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
1.9. Energy and PetroleumNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR167.Develop a FinancialRestructuring andRecovery Plan for theEnergy SectorGovernment has approved The Energy SectorRecovery Programme, which is being implementedto bring about long-term nancial sustainability of thesector. In addition to completing a comprehensivetechnical and nancial evaluation of several powerplants, we are pursuing several recommendationsunder the programme to ensure the nancial viabilityof the sector168.Implement an“Accelerated OilCapacity DevelopmentProgramme” to buildGhanaian capacity tomanage the oil and gassectorThe Accelerated Oil & Gas Capacity Development(AOGC) Programme was launched by the Presidentof the Republic in November 2017. The Secretariathas been established and MOUs signed with three UKinstitutions: Aberdeen Skills and Enterprise Training Academy (ASET), Glasgow Caledonia University(GCU), and Aberdeen Drilling School (ADS). Fundingof US$4.5 million has been concluded with AkerEnergy and the rst batch of beneciaries havecompleted their training in Canada169.Revise gas processingand transportation Tarisas well as LeviesDomestic gas price has been reduced from $8.40per mbtu from when the NDC was in government to$6.08 currently as a result of the review in levies (e.g.reduction of regulatory levies from 40cents to 10cents)170.Decouple Ghana NationalGas Company (GNGC)and Ghana NationalPetroleum Corporation(GNPC)We have reversed the decision by the previousGovernment to combine the two entities171. Accelerate oil explorationin the Voltain basinWe have concluded a 2-D seismic survey whichwas started in 2018. The data is being processed tointerpret it. Early assessment has been encouraging.GNPC will drill two wells to establish the extent ofaccumulation of crude oil172.Pursue energyconservation includingintroduction of MinimumEnergy PerformanceStandards for electricmotors and industrialequipment A Regulation is being prepared for consideration byParliament on energy conservation. New standardsare being applied on air conditioners among others. Inaddition, we have procured 13 million pieces of LEDbulbs which are being distributed. This will save about150MW of power daily.NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO74PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.9. Energy and PetroleumNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR173.Increase proportion ofrenewable energy in thenational generation mixNational Hybrid Power Projects in progress at Bui aswell as under the Pwalugu Project174.Relocate theheadquarters of GNPCto the Western Regionas part of strategy toposition the region as anoil services hubThe sod for the construction of the operationalheadquarters of GNPC in the Western Region hasbeen cut175.Empower localparticipation in Oil &Gas value-chain throughcapacity development,nancing, & partnershipsupportCurrently being implemented under the AcceleratedOil & Gas Capacity Development (AOGC) Programme176.Create jobs, incollaboration with theprivate sector, in thefabrication, installation,and manufacturing ofparts for the oil and gasindustryCurrently being implemented under the AcceleratedOil & Gas Capacity Development (AOGC) Programme.Under the over US$4.7 million programme, some335 Ghanaian youth are receiving global-standardtechnician training in Ghana and abroad. In addition,some Ghanaians are also receiving training astechnical instructors177.Implement a CashWaterfall Mechanism toundertake an automaticdistribution of ECGcollections to all playersalong the energy valuechain according to anagreed formulaImplemented eective April 2020. This ensuresparticipants along the supply value chain benet fromrevenue collections in a transparent and timely manner178.Construct the Takoradi-Tema InterconnectionProject allowing reverseow of gasProject completed179.Relocation ofKarpowership barge fromTema to TakoradiKarpowership relocated and achieved full conversionof engines for utilisation of natural gas instead ofheavy fuel oil (HFO)180.Clear all governmentdebts owed to ECGGovernment debts owed to ECG fully paid as of March2020NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO75PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
1.9. Energy and PetroleumNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR181.Redirect BOST to focuson its core mandate ofprotecting our strategicpetroleum reserves1. We have restructured BOST accordingly2. When the NDC left oce, BOST owed $624 millionto suppliers, BDCs and related parties. Under theNPP, as at February 2020, the outstanding debt is$57 million3. Additionally, BOST was running signicant netlosses between 2013 to 2016, reaching a net lossof GH¢569 in 2016. Under the NPP, there has beena 70% reduction in losses in 2018 and a further41% in 2019.182.Develop long term LNGutilisation programmeas part of strategy toleverage natural gas aslong-term source centralto the operation of thepower sectorTo utilise LNG, a regassication facility is currentlyunder development in Tema. The primary strategyis for LNG to be imported only whenever there isdemand that cannot be met by domestic sources dueto a variety of reasons183.Implement policyto reduce energytransmission lossesIt is currently being implemented as part of the EnergySector Recovery Programme184.Develop Regional OilServices Hub in theWestern Region incollaboration with theprivate sectorGNPC has allocated $10m for land acquisition andrelated expenditures to commence the project185.Adopt a distributed solarenergy solution for allgovernment and publicbuildingsProgramme has started. Ministry of Energy and VoltaRiver Authority buildings completed. Jubilee Houseongoing186.Reduce and renegotiateexisting contracts toreduce their burden onthe economy• Relocated the Karpower ship to Takoradi to utiliseSankofa gas• Terminated the Quantum Gas project• Terminated the Takoradi LNG project• Renegotiated the AMERI Power Purchase Agreement to reduce costs by 13%• Renegotiated the capacity charge under the CENITPower Purchase Agreement, which has resulted ina 31% reduction and conversion of the PPA fromTake-or-Pay to Take-and-PayNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO76PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.9. Energy and PetroleumNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR• Deferred 8 and terminated 2 other Power Purchase Agreements• Issued the Energy Sector Levy Act (ESLA) Bond,which, as at September last year, 2019, has raisedGH¢6 billion. The bond was adjudged the BESTRESTRUCTURING at the 2017 EMEA Finance Achievement Awards• Placed a complete moratorium on signing newPPAs and Put-Call Option Agreements (PCOAs)• Adopted a policy requiring all future PPAs to gothrough competitive and transparent procurementprocedures. Government will therefore no longerentertain any unsolicited proposals• Implemented an economic merit order dispatchwhich means that the most ecient power plantswill be dispatched rst• Renegotiated the domestic gas price from $8.8 permmBtu to $6.08 per mmBtu. The gas price wouldhave been lower if Sankofa gas price was lessexpensive• Restored the price of Ghana’s gas from Jubileeto zero from the $3 per mmBtu which the NDCgovernment imposed on Ghanaians, and• Negotiated with gas producers to increase gasexport from Jubilee from 70 mmscfd to 125mmscfd to recover more oil and increase LPGsupply from domestic sources ADDITIONAL INFORMATION• The Mahama-led NDC Government signed power contracts on a Take-or-Pay basis.Less than 40% of the contracted Take-or-Pay capacity is being used. In eect, we arepaying for the remaining 60 percent of excess capacity which we do not need nor actuallyconsume in the sum of over half a billion U.S. dollars annually• The Mahama-led NDC also contracted around 750 mmscf of gas per day by 2023. Currentdemand is around 250 mmscf per day, and projected to rise to between 450 and 550mmscf per day by 2023, a projected oversupply of 200 to 300 mmscf per day by 2023.Secondly, about 640 mmscf of the contracted gas supply is on a Take-or-Pay basis,meaning we have to pay whether we use it or not.• We now face an average annual excess gas capacity charge of US$700 million annuallyNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO77PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP1.10. InfrastructureDevelopmentNEW PATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENT IN FREEDOM79
1.10. Infrastructure Development (see www.deliverytracker.gov.gh for details)NO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR187.Expand road network, tarroads in District capitalsand extend them to majortowns• 40 town roads completed (36 ongoing)• 635 urban roads and streets completed• 117 foot bridges completed• 138 feeder roads completed• Several Highways such as Bolga-Bawku, EasternCorridor and others are ongoing• Other Highways, such as Lawra-Hamile, have beencompleted• 46 bridges completed (33 ongoing)188.Tar gravel roads,especially in areas of highagricultural productionThis is being done partly under the Cocoa Roadsproject and the US$32-Million EU-Funded RuralRoads/Farm Access Roads Project189.Rehabilitate and reviveairport infrastructure1. Construction of Kumasi Airport Phases II and III is90% complete2. Rehabilitation of Sunyani Airport is 50% complete3. Construction of Tamale Airport Phase III is 30%completeNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO80PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.10. Infrastructure Development (see www.deliverytracker.gov.gh for details)NO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR190.Expand Sportsinfrastructure1. Construction of ten (10) 5,000 seater Youth andSports Centres of Excellence in ten regions of thecountry are at various stages of completion.• Kaneshie, (Greater Accra)• Ho (Volta)• Koforidua (Eastern)• Axim (Western)• Nyinahin (Ashanti)• Dunkwa On-On (Central)• Dormaa (Bono)• Navrongo (Upper East)• Yendi (Northern)• Wa (Upper West)Three of the Centres are earmarked for use as SportsColleges:2. The Accra Sports Stadium, which has not beenrenovated in a decade, has now been renovated3. Renovation works at the Essipong and the KumasiSports Stadia have commenced4. Work has resumed on the construction of theUniversity of Ghana Sports Stadium, a projectstarted by the NPP Government in 2004 andabandoned under the NDC/Mahama administration5. We have also completed 4 and continuing theconstruction of another 25 AstroTurfs in severalcommunities across the country, including Fadama,Madina, Bolgatanga, Walewale, Old Tafo, Aboabo,Salaga, Kyebi, Yeji, Oda, Alajo, Mantse Agbonaa(Jamestown), and Bukom Square.NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO81PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
1.10. Infrastructure Development (see www.deliverytracker.gov.gh for details)NO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR191.Expand HealthinfrastructureOf the 673 health sector projects undertaken, 378have been completed and 295 ongoing. Completedprojects include:• 241 CHPS compounds• 36 maternity blocks and wards• 23 clinics• 4 polyclinics• Four medical drone delivery centres in the Eastern, Ashanti, Western and North East regions• 68 health sta quarters completed (43 ongoing)In addition, we have completed several health projectswe inherited from the Mahama-led NDC Government,while others are being continued. Some of thecompleted projects include:• Polyclinics: Besease, Gomoa Dawurampong,Ekum Nuakwa, Biriwa, Etsii Sunkwa, BimpongEgya, Gomoa Potsin, Gyamera, Mankrong, and Akonfude• District Hospitals: Ga East and Dodowa• Wa Regional Hospital• University of Ghana Medical Centre192.Provide moreinfrastructure for Basicand Senior high Schools• we have currently commenced construction of822 dierent infrastructure projects across all thesixteen regions directly aimed at reducing thenumber of schools running the “Double Track”system for Senior High Schools. A total of 266of these have been completed, with the rest atvarious stages of completion• 1,095 Basic and Senior High School classroomblocks have been completed• 79 dormitories completed (225 under construction)• 73 sta accommodation quarters completed (38ongoing)• we have thus far completed 27 of the E-blocks thatwe inherited on assumption of oce (The NDCcompleted only 29)NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO82PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.10. Infrastructure Development (see www.deliverytracker.gov.gh for details)NO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR193.Review location andlay-bys of fuel stationsto reduce accidents onhighwaysNew guidelines are being implemented by NPA, whichamong other things set a minimum distance (500m)apart for fuel stations194.Toilets for AllOur government has constructed the largest numberof places of convenience by any government in the4th Republic. Under the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area Water and Sanitation Project, 27,242 householdand 238 institutional toilets have been constructed.Under the Sustainable and Rural Water and Sanitationproject, 12,972 household toilets have beenconstructed and 351 communities have attained OpenDefecation-Free (ODF) status.195.Improving access toelectricity• Power extension to 2,407 communities (809ongoing)• Rural electrication: 417 communities connected(211 ongoing)• Under the Transmission System ImprovementProjects, Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo)continued with the Transmission SystemReinforcement to improve operational reliability,security and control, among others. CompletedProjects include:• 161/33kv Accra Central Gas-InsulatedSubstation (GIS) Project• 161/33kv Aenya Substation Project• 330kv Prestea-Kumasi Power EnhancementProject• 330kv Kumasi-Bolgatanga Transmission Project• 330kv Aboadze-Prestea Transmission LineProject• In addition, the 225kV Bolgatanga-OuagadougouInterconnection Project, which is a component ofthe WAPP Inter-zonal Transmission Hub Project,was completed and inaugurated by the Presidentsof Ghana and Burkina Faso. This is currentlyfacilitating the export of 70MW power from Ghanato Burkina FasoNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO84PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.10. Infrastructure Development (see www.deliverytracker.gov.gh for details)NO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR196.“Water For All”A total of 812 hand pump boreholes have beencompleted along with 476 mechanized boreholesacross the country. 807 mechanized borehole projectsare also ongoing nationwideSmall town water systems have been completedto serve 177 communities in Anomansa, Abaasa,Essiam, Obontser, Ayeidu, Bontrase, Papase, Nkum,Engyiresi, Asempanaye, Osei Kojo krom, Lambussie,Hamile-Happa , Walewale, Gbimsi, Wungu, Gambaga,Naanori, Nalerigu, Chereponi, Gushegu, Kanshegu,Nyensung, Saboba, Yapei, Asiri, Jankufa, Dotobaa,Prang, Brosankro, Ziope, Akpokpo/Batume Junction, Amedzofe, Seniagya, Akrokeri, and Bobrease amongothersSmall town water systems in Nalerigu, Chereponi, andYapei have also been commissioned.Parliamentary approval and funding have beensecured for the Wenchi Water Supply Project to bestarted in 2020, while sod has been cut, and workstarted, on the following:• Yendi Water Supply Project• Damango Water Supply Project• Tamale Water Supply Project197.Rebuild Ghana’s RailwayinfrastructureThe railway projects, being undertaken since 2017,include the completed rehabilitation of Accra – Tema(30 km), Achimota – Nsawam (33 km), and Kojokrom –Tarkwa (56 km) narrow guage lines. Also:• Processes have started to construct the Easternand Western railway lines as well as the Ghana-Burkina Faso railway• Construction of the new standard gauge WesternLine (Takoradi to Kumasi) has commenced. TheKojokrom to Manso section of 22km is ongoing.• Tema- Mpakadan railway line (97km) is ongoing. Approximately 56km of the track laying has beencompleted• Railway Training School in Sekondi is completeNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO85PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
1.10. Infrastructure Development (see www.deliverytracker.gov.gh for details)NO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR198.Construct by-passes andinterchanges at majorintersections1. Tema Interchange Completed2. Obetsebi Lamptey Circle (Phase 1): 55%completed3. Pokuase: 75% completed4. Tamale Point-7 Interchange: 44% complete199.Facilitate the constructionof low- and mid-incomehousing over the short,medium, and long term1. 5,770.45 acres acquired as at 2018 at Sege andOjobi. Additional 1,313 acres of land sourced atFiankonya and Kweiman for housing2. Government has established the National Housingand Mortgage Finance Scheme to address boththe housing supply and demand side nancingchallenges200.Develop world-standardICT Incubator HubsImplemented as the Ghana Innovation Hub (GIH) undera World Bank funding arrangement. The Accra DigitalCentre also provides a hub for young innovators andbusinesses201.Increase access to dataplatforms by reducingtaris on the use of datafor internet accessCost of data reduced signicantly (40%, from $1.56per 1G in 2019 to $0.94 in 2020) to the sixth cheapestin Africa202.Extension of bre opticnetwork to westerncorridor of the countryDone. In collaboration with the private sector203.Expand and moderniseTema PortGovernment renegotiated the terms of the project.Works are currently underway for the constructionof four (4) dedicated container berths. The rst twoberths have been completed and in operation. Itprovides for increased capacity to berth more cargoand containerised services204.Expand and moderniseTakoradi PortThe Takoradi Port Expansion Project is progressingsteadily. A Multi-Purpose Container Terminalcommenced in 2019 and the Dry Bulk Jetty is almostcompletedNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO87PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
1.10. Infrastructure Development (see www.deliverytracker.gov.gh for details)NO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR205.Coastal Sea DefenceProjectsThe following sea defence projects were commencedafter 2017 and are ongoing:• Axim, Amanful Kumah, Kommenda, CapeCoast, Elmina, and AnomabuThe following sea defence projects were ongoing,when we came into oce and we have completedthem:• Nkontompo, Aboadze, Adjoa, Blekusu, NewTakoradi, Elmina206.Construct new harboursat Jamestown in Accraand in Keta As part of Government programme to develop a portat Keta in line with our commitments, the Ghana Portsand Harbours Authority is undertaking a feasibilitystudy in the Keta area. An Executive Instrumentdeclaring Keta area a Port Zone was signed in 2018.MOU has been signed with Diamond Cement toconstruct a jetty to handle clinker for its factory207.Continue building landingsites at Cape Coast,Mumford, Teshie, Axim,Keta, Ada, Jamestown &WinnebaBeing implemented. Construction is ongoing atten (10) sh landing sites namely Axim, Dixcove,Senya Bereku, Gomoa Fete, Moree, Mumford,Teshie, Winneba, Elmina, and Keta. Construction ofJamestown harbour has also started208.Security Infrastructure• 29 police stations completed (44 ongoing)• 22 police posts completed (13 ongoing)• 17 Fire service posts completed (5 ongoing)• 20 command buildings completed (8 ongoing)• Barracks Regeneration Project for Armyaccommodation in progress. Several completed• Forward Operating Naval Base constructionongoing at Ezilinbo, Western region209.Establish theInfrastructure For PovertyEradication Programme(IPEP)IPEP has been established with a supervising Ministry,Ministry of Special Development Initiatives (MSDI) withimplementation by Development AuthoritiesNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO88PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
The selection of projects presented above is a snapshot representation of more than 17,000separate infrastructure projects we have developed to date in just our rst term. It is by far thelargest number of infrastructure projects undertaken by any government in the 4th Republic,and the infrastructure database we have developed, the rst of its kind by any Ghanaiangovernment, enables us better track and complete projects.The complete database can be accessed and interrogated, right down to District (and in somecases Constituency and Town basis) atwww.deliverytracker.gov.gh.NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO89PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP1.11. Natural Resources(Lands, Forestry andMining)NEW PATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENT IN FREEDOM93
1.11. Natural Resources(Lands, Forestry and Mining)NO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR210.Facilitate the revival of Anglogold Ashanti Obuasimines and other mines Anglogold Ashanti revived and back inoperation. Since the restart of the Obuasi Minein June 2018 up to June 2020, 4,163 peoplehave been employed on the mine rehabilitationproject, with 78% of the US$502 million so farspent going directly to Ghanaian-owned (39%)and Ghana-domiciled (39%) rms that hireGhanaians211.Target 30,000 ha of degradedareas for reforestation andplantation developmentannually A total of 25,000 ha have been planted underthe Forestry Commission Youth-In-AorestationProgramme212.Establish 1000 ha of bambooand rattan plantations annuallyMore than 1,000 ha of bamboo planted in 2019.In addition, 400 Bamboo and Rattan artisanshave been trained213.Establish tree and plantainsuckers in a minimum of800 communities to supplythe seedlings for nationalreforestation and plantationdevelopment programmesUnder Phase 1, 520 communities are producingplantain and other food crops under theModied Taungya System214.Extend forestry conservationareasFive (5) Community Resource Management Area(CREMA) Blocks covering an area of 88,807 ha.and 257 communities were involved in forestconservation projects. About 800 ha of sacredgrooves have also been currently brought underForest Management and Forest ManagementPlans, and are now being developed togetherwith 20 selected communities215.Support the protection of theremaining network of naturalforest and biodiversity hotspots A World Bank-Funded Forest ImprovementProject is currently being implemented inWestern, Bono, Ahafo, and Ashanti RegionsNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO94PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.11. Natural Resources(Lands, Forestry and Mining)NO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR216.Mainstream strategic mineralfeedstock into the domesticeconomy to support economicvalue addition1. Government is exercising its rights under theMining Law (Sections 6, 7 and 104) to ensurethat up to 30% of gold produced in Ghana isrened locally2. In addition to the privately owned ones,Precious Minerals Marketing Company(PMMC) is building another renery217.Promote mining value-additionthrough the processing ofmineralsGhana Integrated Aluminium DevelopmentCorporation (GIADEC) and Ghana IntegratedIron and Steel Development Corporation(GIISDEC) have both been established, and havecommenced operations to this end218.Provide incentives for privateinvestors for sustainableexploration of minerals inthe Northern Development Authority areaThe establishment of GIISDEC will anchorprivate sector investment into mineralexploration in the NDA area. In addition,investors have been incentivised under the “OneDistrict, One Factory” initiative and are investingin the NDA area219.Clean Rivers Programme:Replant trees along the banksof all major water bodies andtheir tributaries A total of 9 million trees have been planted alongrivers under the Forestry Commission Youth-In- Aorestation Programme220.Restructure & Regulate small-scale mining sub-sector andartisans so that activities cantake place within guidelinesset up under the appropriateregulationsOver 4,000 artisanal miners trained in improvedmining technologies at George Grant Universityof Mines and Technology (UMAT). Community-based mining concessions have been issuedand operating under strict supervisionNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO95PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
1.11. Natural Resources(Lands, Forestry and Mining)NO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR221.Restructure royalty sharingratios with mining communities:Reduce Government sharefrom 80% to 70%, and doublethe Community share from 10%to 20% (the additional 10%given to the District Assemblyfor infrastructure in the miningcommunities)Minerals Development Fund Secretariatestablished and is currently implementing thesharing of royalties among beneciaries222.Fully decentralise LandsCommission and land servicesto the district levelThe plan to establish the District Oces is beingimplemented. Two District Oces have beenestablished in Winneba and Ga West. Activitiestowards land reforms and decentralisationinclude the digitisation and automation of landregistration processes which is in progress223.Decentralise the MineralsCommission by establishingadditional District Oces of theCommission13 new oces have been opened, including1 Regional Oce in Tamale and four DistrictOces in Hohoe, Kenyasi, Cape Coast and Ho224.Combat illegal mining(Galamsey)• Placed a moratorium on all small-scalemining. The moratorium was lifted only afterimplementing a structured, tightly-regulatedstrategy, the Community Mining Programme(CMP)• Instituted and implemented a stringentenforcement regime – GALAMSTOP – whichincludes the seizure and destruction of12,000 “changfan” machines used to mineillegally in riverbeds, as well as the seizure ofseveral excavators• Four thousand ve hundred (4,500) indigeneswere trained on sustainable mining practicesat the George Grant University of Mines andTechnology (UMAT). This helped reduce by90% the number of miners dying in collapsedmining tunnels and pitsNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO96PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.11. Natural Resources(Lands, Forestry and Mining)NO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR• Amended the Mining Act to increase thepenalties for illegal mining, and prohibitforeign nationals from participating in small-scale mining• Formulated and continue to implementthe Alternative Livelihood Programme inthirty-ve (35) severely aected “Galamsey”communities, under which ve hundred (500)youth have been trained in vocational andtechnical skills and provided with start-uptools and equipment. Six hundred and seven(607) other youth are currently undergoingsimilar training: two hundred and forty (240)in Community Development Institutions, andthree hundred and sixty-seven (367) attachedto Master Craftsmen through apprenticeshipat the local levelNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO97PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP1.12. Science, Technology,Innovation, andEnvironmentNEW PATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENT IN FREEDOM99
1.12. Science, Technology, Innovation,and EnvironmentNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR225.Establish, in collaborationwith the private sector, aagship system of GhanaCentres of Excellenceto network all HigherEducation Institutes tosupport research andinnovationSix (6) new Centres of Excellence for DevelopmentImpact have been set up:These are:1. University of Ghana (UG): West Africa GeneticMedicine Centre (WAGMC)2. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science andTechnology (KNUST)Regional Transport Researchand Education Centre, Kumasi (TRECK)3. KNUST: Engineering Education Project (KEEP)4. University of Cape Coast (UCC): Africa Centre ofExcellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECOR)5. University for Development Studies (UDS): West Africa Centre for Water, Irrigation and Sustainable Agriculture (WACWISA), and6. K. A. Busia University of Energy and NaturalResources (UENR): Regional Centre for Energy andEnvironmental Sustainability (RCEES)226.Establish Presidential Advisory Council forScience and TechnologyEstablished through a Gazetted Executive Notice227.Map out the soil structureand composition of thecountrySoil structure of the entire country has now beendetermined in collaboration with CSIR228.Build power plantsthat use combustibledomestic and industrialwaste to generateelectricity A partnership with Germany has been signed for thesetting up of the plant (solar and biomas) at Atwiman229.Expand the researchand developmentcapabilities of the countryby establishing RegionalTechnology ParksSod has been cut for the start of the parksNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO100PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.12. Science, Technology, Innovation,and EnvironmentNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR230.Update and strengthenthe NationalEnvironmental ProtectionProgramme and theEnvironmental ActionPlanThis is being executed under the National Plastic Action Partnership and the Global Plastic ActionPartnership231.Work with internationalpartners to accesspart of the global fundfor climate changemanagementGhana is engaged in a swap arrangement withSwitzerland and South Korea for the supply of solarpanel and stoves for carbon credits232.Operationalise thenational E-WasteprogramOperationalised the National E-waste programme infullment of two provisions of Act 917: designation ofthe External Service Provider (SGS) to verify, assessand collect the Advance Recycle Eco Fee on allElectrical and Electronic equipment and to construct astate-of-the-art Recycling Facility at AgbogbloshieNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO101PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP1.13. Governance,Corruption and Public AccountabilityNEW PATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENT IN FREEDOM103
1.13. Governance, Corruption, andPublic AccountabilityNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR233.Reform the regulatory andinstitutional framework foranti-corruption A. We have strengthened the legal framework to ghtcorruption, passing into law:1. The Witness Protection Act, 2018 (Act 959)2. The Oce of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2018 (Act959)3. Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency Act, 2020(Act 1015)4. Public Financial Management Regulations, 2019 (LI2378)5. The Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2019 (Act 989):passed after 21 years since it was introduced andhaving gone through six parliaments under the 4th Republic6. The Companies Act, 2019, (Act 992), whichprovides a framework for establishing a benecialownership registerB. We have also:7. Implemented several digitisation initiatives toprevent public-sector corruption8. Applied Open and Competitive Bidding for, andconducted Ghana’s rst open bidding round for oilblocks9. Established a National Register of Contracts/ Register of Petroleum Agreements, as provided forby the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act,2016 (Act 919), which the NDC refused to do. Thisenables anyone trace who the benecial owners ofinterest in oil blocks are10. We have successfully defended several legal claimsagainst the State and reversed the trend wherehuge monetary awards are made against the State,saving €100,000,000, £920,000, US$13 million, andGH¢166 million in potential judgment debts, andNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO104PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.13. Governance, Corruption, andPublic AccountabilityNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR11. More than forty (40) high prole persons have beencharged with various acts arising out of actions andactivities superintended by the Mahama-led NDCadministration, involving in monetary terms a totalof about US$265.5 million and GH¢2.225 billion.To date, six (6) have been found guilty, three (3)of whom have been jailed and ordered to refundUS$3 million to the state. The other three (3) havebeen ordered to refund GH¢18.5 million and forfeitassets, including eight (8) buildings and ve (5)luxurious vehicles to the state234.Restart the People’s AssembliesWe have broadened and extended the concept intoTown Hall Meetings, which have been addressed bythe Vice President, Sector Ministers, Ministers of State,Regional Ministers and MMDCEs235.Request Parliament toamend the law to providefor public disclosure ofasset declarationsIt is part of the Public Ocials Code of Conduct Billcurrently before Parliament236.Publish and enforce aCode of Conduct forpublic ocials to giveeect to Article 284 of theConstitutionThe Public Ocials Code of Conduct Bill, which iscurrently before Parliament, will address this issue237.Empower the NationalRoad Safety Commission(NRSC) to enforce andsanction road sectoroperatorsCabinet has approved conversion of the NRSC into an Authority with the necessary powers to enforce andsanction operators in the sector238.Ensure strict enforcementof the Public Procurement ActThrough the implementation of the e-Procurementplatform and the “Common User Average Price List,”the National Procurement Authority (NPA) is ensuringcompliance with the Procurement ActNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO105PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
1.13. Governance, Corruption, andPublic AccountabilityNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR239.Resource AuditorGeneral’s Oce to set upa Procurement Audit Unitto conduct Value-For-Money auditsBudgetary allocation to the Oce of the AuditorGeneral has been signicantly increased to enable itperform its duties. Compared to 2016, the 2019 budgetfor the Oce has increased by 177%. Year-on-Year,the budget increased by 28% in 2017, 70% in 2018,and 27% in 2019.240.Resource otheranti-corruption andgovernance institutionsWe have improved the nancing of governance andanti-corruption MDAs like the Ministry of Justice andOce of the Attorney General, Oce of the SpecialProsecutor, NCCE, CHRAJ, and EOCO241.Increase the directtransfers of District Assembly Common Fund(DACF) funds to MMDAsWe have signicantly increased the direct transfers ofDACF funds to MMDAs from 35.1% in 2016 to 53.40%in 2019 in fullment of our commitment to curtailcentralised spending on behalf of local governmentstructures242.Establish a TransactionPrice Database to tracktypical project costsThe National Procurement Authority has designed andimplemented it under the Common User Items AveragePrices List243.Decentralise LandValuation Board to providedirect technical supporton property valuation toMMDAsIn collaboration with GIZ, the rst phase is beingimplemented across 49 Districts244.Create the Western NorthRegionSix new Regions have been created following theconstitutional process, including the Western NorthRegion245.Restructure SADA intoNorthern Development Authority (NDA)This has been done with a functioning Board andManagement. It is now the primary executing agencyfor IPEP in the Northern BeltNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO106PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.13. Governance, Corruption, andPublic AccountabilityNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR246.Establish the Middle BeltDevelopment Authority& the Coastal BeltDevelopment AuthorityThe two have been established, with functioningBoards and Management. They are the primaryexecuting agency for IPEP in the Middle and CoastalBelts respectively247.Establish the ZongoDevelopment FundThis has been done, with a supervising Ministry ofInner-City and Zongo Development. The Fund hasnanced several development projects across thecountryNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO107PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP1.14. SecurityNEW PATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENT IN FREEDOM109
1.14. SecurityNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR248.Enhance Police’scybersecurity andcybercrime ghtingcapabilitiesComputer Emergency Response Team (CERT) Centrehas been set up with the NCA while the training of thepolice on Cyber Security also ongoing249.Curb proliferation ofsmall weapons, includingincorporating theprotocol on small armsand light weapons intoour domestic law1. The National Commission on Small Arms and LightWeapons (NCSALW) under the Weapons Collectionand Destruction Programme, has collected 2,892illicit arms for destruction2. There is an ongoing exercise to mark weapons ofthe Security Agencies and to collect and destroyseized illicit small arms from Police armouries andexhibit stores3. In addition, NCSALW has organised aninternational capacity building programmefor ocers from selected institutions on theimplementation of arms control instruments andengaged in public awareness and educationexercises to sensitise citizens250.Expand and resourceMarine Police to workwith the Navy to protectour oshore oil and gasinstallationsPolice Service has procured two Marine Boats toenhance security along the country’s territorial waters251.Restructure policerecruitment to avoid fraudand cronyismPolice recruitment processes have been enhancedwith online application systems entrenched as a checkagainst irregularities associated with recruitment252.Recruit additional policeocers/target meetingthe UN ratio of 1:500police to civiliansRecruitment into the Ghana Police Service hasincreased its overall strength from 32,679 at the end of2016 to 37,571, raising our Police-To-Citizen ratio to1:808253.Provide each District witha Fire Station where noneexistsSeventeen (17) Stations have been completed.Provision of additional 5 Fire Stations ongoingNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO110PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.14. SecurityNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR254.Upgrade equipment ofarmed service personnel(Police, Army, Prisons,Fire Service, andImmigration Services)1. When we came into oce, the Police had only 492serviceable vehicles. Government has providedover GHc1 billion worth of equipment and logisticsto the Police, including 4,500 fragmentation jackets, modern communication equipment, 740vehicles, and three helicopters among others2. The Immigration Service has had one (1) armouryconstructed and fourteen (14) facilities fortied toserve as armouries. In addition, we have procuredthe following for them: 320 pieces of AK47 assaultries, 120 pieces of Beret pistols, 10,000 piecesof AK47 ammunition, 10,000 pieces of Beret pistolammunition, 190 vehicles, 153 motorbikes and 50 All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs)3. We have procured and commissioned 138operational vehicles for the Ghana Armed Forces(GAF)4. We have procured and commissioned 50 buses forthe Ghana Armed Forces5. Eleven (11) Command Vehicles have beenprocured for the Fire Service. In addition, ve (5)extrication equipment were procured, the FireMaster Control was refurbished with moderncommunication equipment, and a Smoke Chamberwas constructed to aid in training re ocers. Two(2) Hydraulic Platforms will be delivered in August,2020255.Introduce robust anti-narcotic drug and anti-organised crime policywith severe sanctionsand penalties1. NACOB (now a Commission) has intensiedthe monitoring of activities of companies in thedistribution-chain (import, distribution, use, and re-exportation) of precursor chemicals in the countryto prevent the diversion of these chemicals into themanufacture of illicit drugs2. The Narcotics Control Commission Act has nowbeen passed. It provides for stier penalties andsanctionsNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO111PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
1.14. SecurityNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR256.Upgrade the narcoticand illicit drug detectioncapabilities1. Training capabilities upgraded2. We introduced a K9 Unit to train and deploy snierdogs3. New body and luggage scanners provided257.Rehabilitate andUpgrade the livingconditions/quarters ofthe security servicesunder the “NationalBarracks RegenerationProgramme”1. Construction of 320 housing units for the GhanaPolice Service is on-going2. For the Ghana Armed Forces, a 250-unit housingis being constructed as part of the ForwardOperating Base in Enzinibu, Western Region. Inaddition, a US$100M Military Housing Projectacross all Garrisons have commenced while wecomplete all housing projects under the VTB Loanand the abandoned SSNIT Project. The rst of four(4) sixteen-unit (16) storey blocks, in total sixty-four (64) units under the Barracks RegenerationProgramme, has been completed. Various otherupgrade projects have been undertaken at militaryfacilities across the country3. Similar projects are ongoing for the Fire and PrisonServices258.Maintaining Peace andStabilityGhana has been adjudged the most peaceful countryby the Global Peace Index in West Africa and the thirdmost peaceful country in Africa. In 2016 Ghana wasthe 6th most peaceful country in Africa259.Improve the trainingcapabilities of armedservices personnel(Police, Army, Prisons,Fire Service, andImmigration Services)Provision of modern equipment and refresher trainingfor the security services is ongoing. For example,15,000 Community Police Ocers have been trainedas part of the police visibility and community policingstrategy260.Improve accommodationof armed servicespersonnelConstruction of new housing and rehabilitation ofexisting housing for security services ongoing261.Protect military landsfrom encroachmentThere has been no new encroachment since we havebeen in oce and some of the existing encroachmentshave been reversedNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO112PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.14. SecurityNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR262.Adjust upwards theallowances of securitypersonnel on UNPeacekeeping Missions Allowance of security personnel on UN PeacekeepingMissions increased to $35263.Ensure security personnelon UN PeacekeepingMissions are paid at theirduty posts1. Security personnel on UN Peacekeeping Missionsare now paid at their duty posts2. We have also paid all the delayed outstandingarrears under Peacekeeping OperationsNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO113PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP1.15. Foreign AairsNEW PATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENT IN FREEDOM115
1.15. Foreign AfairsNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR264.Move Diaspora AairsBureau to the Oce ofthe PresidentDone. A Director of Diaspora Aairs has beenappointed. The Bureau worked with the GhanaTourism Authority (GTA) in organising the highlysuccessful “Year of Return” Programme. It has alsobeen involved in Investment and Trade Missionsfocusing on Ghanaians in the Diaspora265.Task our diplomaticmissions to focus oneconomic diplomacyMinistry of Foreign Aairs has accelerated the creationof an Economic, Trade and Investment Bureau in linewith this objective. It has been aggressively involved inrecent investment drives, including on the Sinohydroproject266.Establish a policyframework to facilitatethe return of Ghanaiansand people of Africandescent living abroad Achievements include being a key partner in thedesign and implementation of the “Year of Return”Initiative267.Broaden our global reachby strengthening our tieswith the internationalorganisation of LaFrancophonieGhana is now an associate member of LaFrancophonie, with French-speaking President Akufo- Addo attending their meetings. Plans are on the wayto become a full member268.Work with the AfricanUnion (AU) to create the African Continental FreeTrade AreaDone and its Secretariat has since been established in Accra269.Review existing foreignpolicy in light of Brexitand new world orderGhana has been in high-level talks with the UKGovernment, culminating in the setting up of a Ghana-UK Business Council to facilitate post-Brexit relations270.Enhance our role in theactivities of ECOWASand AU/Take leadershiprole in getting allgroups within ECOWASto harmonise theirobjectivesThrough our eorts, the President has been appointedthe Champion of AU Financial Institutions as well as AU Gender ChampionNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO116PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.15. Foreign AfairsNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR271.Facilitate links between Ambassadors withMMDCEs to maximiseinvestment and tradeopportunities for localauthoritiesGhana Missions abroad have been linked withMMDCEs to enable direct communication and toconnect investors to local authorities directly whererelevant272.Facilitate theimplementation of ROPALThe Ministry is facilitating the Electoral Commission’sengagement with the Diaspora on the plan forimplementation of ROPAL. Some of the engagementstook place in Senegal and also in the United States273.Work for the rapidestablishment of anECOWAS regional marketGhana is leading eorts for a comprehensive review ofthe ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation scheme to facilitateregional tradeNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO118PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP1.16. Youth and SportsNEW PATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENT IN FREEDOM121
1.16. Youth and SportsNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR274.Establish a YouthEnterprise Fund that willprovide start up fund foryoung entrepreneursThe fund has been set up under the NationalEntrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP), whichincludes funding for young entrepreneurs275.Implement a Women-in-Sports programme tosupport female athletesand unearth talentsDone276.Develop a Youth-In-Sports moduleto support youngsportsmen and womenDone277.Complete theconstruction of theUniversity of GhanaStadiumConstruction is ongoing.278.Develop, in partnershipwith the private sector,Youth Development andSports Centres in allregions and Stadia inregions without oneTen (10) multipurpose Youth and Sport ResourceCentres of Excellence are being constructed acrossthe country to provide recreational, sporting andentrepreneurial training facilities for the youth, includingFIFA-standard football pitches. Each Centre has:1. ve-thousand (5000) capacity spectator standincluding VIP stand with the possibility for expansion2. a FIFA standard football pitch3. 8-lane Athletic track (articial surface)4. a tennis court5. multi- purpose court for basketball, handball netballand volleyball6. gymnasium for tness training and martial arts7. Counselling Centre8. ICT Centre9. Entrepreneurship Training Centre10. restaurant, and11. 200/300 Bed Hostel in selected centres earmarkedto host sports academies.The Centres are located at Upper East – Navrongo;Bono – Dormaa Ahenkro; Northern – Yendi; Central -Dunkwa-On-On; Western – Axim; Upper West – Wa;Volta – Ho; Ashanti – Nyinahin; Eastern – Koforidua; andGreater Accra – Kaneshie.NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO122PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.16. Youth and SportsNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR279.Promote youthentrepreneurshipNEIP was created to channel resources and supportyoung entrepreneurs. This has yielded signicantresults, including:• A National Entrepreneurship Policy, which has beendeveloped to deepen Ghana’s entrepreneurshipecosystem• 19,000 young entrepreneurs and start-ups, whohave been trained in modern business practicescompared to 1,060 under the Mahama-led NDCGovernment• 4,350 young entrepreneurs and start-ups, whohave been given funding of between GH¢10,000and GH¢100,000 each to scale-up their businesscompared to 166 under the Mahama-led NDCGovernment• 40 innovative young entrepreneurs, of between18 and 25 years, who have been supported withfunds to implement their business ideas under thePresidential Pitch• 850 women entrepreneurs with disability, who havebeen given funding of GH¢ 2 million to scale up theirbusinesses and• 1,000 male entrepreneurs with disability, who arebeing given funding of GH¢2 million to scale up theirbusinessesNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO123PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP1.17. Tourism, Chieftancy,Culture and Creative ArtsNEW PATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENT IN FREEDOM125
1.17. Tourism, Chieftancy, Cultureand Creative ArtsNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR280.Transform the Ghana Tourist Authority (GTA) into a modernand more ecient institution(Including invest in TourismIT as an enabler to improveknowledge and sharing ofinformation about tourismopportunities in the country)The GTA has digitised its processes, enablingseamless engagement with its stakeholders. Also, we have brought into force the Sites and Attractions LI, (Tourist Sites) Regulations, 2019,L.I. 2393, which has transformed the regulatoryfunction of the Authority281.Engage with the Diaspora asa source of Socio-Economicand Cultural DevelopmentThis is being achieved through the following:• for the commemoration of the 400-Year Anniversary of the arrival of the rst West African slaves in Virginia, USA, Ghanaproclaimed 2019 as the Year of Return (YOR),inviting all Africans in the diaspora home toGhana. Highlights of the successful YORinclude:• growth in international arrivals of 18%,thirteen points above the global growthrate of 5%, and• the increase arrivals were accompanied byan increase in spending and length of stays• launching of “Beyond the Return” Project as asuccessor to the “Year of Return” Programme• establishment of the Diaspora Fund toattract investments from the Diaspora intoinfrastructure development• institution of the Diaspora FinancialProfessionals Engagement Initiative• the relocation of the Diaspora Bureau to theOce of the President• the establishment of a Diaspora Desk at GIPC,and• the initiation of a process for a HomelandReturn Act282.Establish a Creative ArtsCouncil that will harmonise thevarious interest groupsThe Creative Arts Council has been establishedNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO126PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
1.17. Tourism, Chieftancy, Cultureand Creative ArtsNO.PROMISESWHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR283.Protect the copyright ofthe Adinkra symbols inaccordance with the Copyright Act, 2005 (Act 690) and builda detailed inventory of all ourcultural assetsNational Folklore Board has been set up andregistration of all Kente and Adinkra Designs is inprogress. It is also conducting an inventory of allour cultural assets284.Partner the private sectorto set up a state-of-the-arthospitality teaching facility,with an operational hotel,classrooms, kitchens, library,and dormitoriesHotel Catering and Tourism Training Institute(HOTCATT) reopened. Tourism Training PolicyFinalised285.Establish a revenue-sharingprogramme to inject 5% oftourism revenues into the localcommunities to encouragethem to take ownershipof, and be invested in theirsustainabilityThis is being implemented. With the coming intoforce of the Sites and Attractions (Tourist Sites)Regulations, 2019, L.I. 2393, we have signedMOUs with 11 communities to formalise theimplementation286.Construct modern, large-seating theatres in everyregional capital except Accra,beginning with Takoradi,Tamale and KumasiKoforidua completed, while Kumasi is ongoing287.Forge a new and formalcollaboration between chiefsand the governmentGovernment is in constant engagement withtraditional authorities, consulting them regularlyon a wide range of issues. One of the majorsuccesses of this relationship is the peacefulresolution of the Dagbon conict288.Involve Chiefs, Queen Mothersand Traditional Authorities inthe aorestation and greeningof GhanaGovernment, through local authorities,have enlisted some traditional authorities inaorestation projects289.Resolve the long-standingDagbon Chieftaincy disputeDone with the support of the Eminent ChiefsNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO129PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP1.18. ConclusionNEW PATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENT IN FREEDOM133
1.18. ConclusionIn 2016, our party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and our Presidential Candidate, Nana AddoDankwa Akufo-Addo, sought your mandate on a platform of creating a prosperous society witheconomic opportunity for all Ghanaians.We were clear in what we wanted to use the mandate for: to re-build the Ghana We Want,strong, prosperous, and united with expanded opportunities for all, no matter where you livein the country. The evidence shows that we have kept faith with the people of Ghana, anddelivered or are delivering on most of our promises. The job is by no means done, however. Westill have more to do in our service for the good people of Ghana.We know the continuing faith it will require on your part, and the responsibilities it places onus, but we do not ask for the renewal of our mandate in a vacuum. We ask on the basis of twoconvictions:• we ask you to give us four more years because our Government, borne out of the NPP,under the leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has kept faith withyou, Ghanaians, by delivering on the commitments we made to you. As at the end of 2019, we can report that we are on track, having signicantly deliveredon our mandate. Many have asked: how could an economy that could not pay teacherand nursing training allowances suddenly deliver lower taxes, restore teacher and nursingtraining allowances, create jobs, implement Free Senior High School education , NABCO,Planting For Food and Jobs, One Village One Dam, One Constituency One Ambulance,reduce electricity taris, formalise the economy, industrialise the economy through “OneDistrict, One Factory”, and reduce the cost of doing business, while at the same timereducing the budget decit and the rate of borrowing?The question had been asked because it seemed an impossible task by the end of 2016,but we were very condent that, with good economic management and by the grace ofGod, we could make what seemed impossible possible. And we did;• secondly, it is our conviction, based on recent history, that by renewing our mandateand giving us four more years, you will be ensuring that all the hard work over the lastfour years does not go to waste. This is a real, signicant risk. We have been here before. In 2009, after we handed astrong economy over to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Ghana ended up withthe biggest ever mess in the history of our country. By the time you elected us again toreplace the NDC at the end of 2016, we had been preceded by eight years of economicmismanagement, incompetence and widespread corruption. The scal meltdown was sobad that the NDC signing up to an IMF ECF-supported programme for policy credibilitydid little to change the direction of the economy and country. Not renewing our mandate is in essence inviting the NDC back into oce to create anothermess all over again. It will mean a roll back in macroeconomic stability, the return of thenumerous and excessive taxes of the NDC years, another four to ve years of Dumsor, aroll back of successful programmes and initiatives such as Free SHS, Planting for Foodand Jobs, and One District One Factory.NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO134PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP
We have, in a few short years, restored Ghana on a path towards irreversibility. We shouldnot go back again to the dark, hard days of the NDC! As we go into the 2020 General Elections, we will humbly like to remind you that PresidentNana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the NPP Government, and the entire party, have performedconsiderably better than their NDC predecessors. Visitwww.deliverytracker.gov.gh for additional information on how we are meeting ourcommitments to you, your community, business, and workplaces.NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO135PART 1: ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STEWARDSHIPNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
PART 2COVID-19NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO137NEW PATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENT IN FREEDOM
2. Its Impact On Ghana2.1. The COVID-19 ChallengeThe COVID-19 induced economic downturn poses a crisis nobody has seen before. Thepandemic, which started at the beginning of 2020, has spread worldwide with speed.Lockdowns, border closures, stay at home restrictions, business closures, and travel restrictionshave become the new instruments of public safety across the world. Over 9.7 million peoplehave been infected with more than 490,000 lost lives as at June 28. And there is fear of moresuering and disruptions if the pandemic does not wane soon.The pandemic resulted in a dramatic slowdown in the global economy, disrupting global supplychains and has led to massive job losses. The World Bank forecast growth in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) will fall sharply from 2.4% in 2019 to negative in the range of -2.1% to -5.1% in2020. The slowdown is expected to weaken the two fastest growing regions: ECOWAS and theEast Africa Community. While the true scale of the crisis and the economic catastrophe are stillunfolding in many parts of the world, a slowdown in economic activity in Ghana has hit manyhouseholds, businesses, employment and public nances hard.2.2. The General Impact of COVID-19Containment measures, including partial lockdowns, border closures, limits on social interactionlike social distancing, and ban on social/public gatherings to protect the health and lives ofpeople from the pandemic, have severely aected lives and livelihoods, elevated macro-scalrisks, and disrupted trade and commercial activities, including:• elevated risks to macro-scal stability and to the real sector:• the decline in crude oil price has had adverse impact on petroleum export revenuesand threatens to derail investment in the oil and gas sector• reduction in agricultural activity due to limited farmers access to inputs, and especiallyreduction in agricultural exports• mounting nancial sector pressures due to debt service diculties• decline in transportation services because of limited mobility• slowdown in education services due to a hold in the academic calendar and pay cutsin private schools• slowdown in foreign direct investments due to global uncertainties• increases in government expenditures, including health expenditures, to save lives,protect businesses and jobs, as well as livelihoods, while experiencing signicantshortfalls in revenue from petroleum receipts, import duties, and other tax revenues• lives and livelihoods:• large numbers of mainly informal sector workers unable to carry on their trades orsmall businesses, with the attendant disruptions in their incomes and livelihoodsNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO138PART 2:COVID-19
• increased job losses and rising unemployment, depressed household incomes andreduced remittances• a general slowdown in trade and commercial activities:• slowdown in industrial production, decline in demand and supply, disruptions tosupply chains, increase in airfreight costs and slowdown in exports and imports haveresulted in a decline in trade and commerce2.3. Sector-Specic Impact of the COVID-19 PandemicMacroeconomic ImpactThe microeconomic impact of the pandemic has been enormous. As at the end of the half-year,(January to June 2020) which covers the onset of the pandemic:• revenue performance was lower against the programmed target (fell by 26%), and• expenditures, signicantly inuenced by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, werehigher compared to target (exceeded target by 11.5%)These developments resulted in:• an overall scal decit of 6.3% of GDP compared to a programmed decit target of 3.1percent of GDP. The scal decit for the period more than doubled the programmedtarget because Government increased its nancing programme to address the shortfall inrevenue mobilisation and, to deal, in part, with the force majeure imposed by COVID-19-induced expenditures• the corresponding primary balance for the period was also a decit of 3.3 percent of GDP,compared with a programmed decit target of 0.9 percent of GDP.The forecast of overall impact on the economy this, and subsequent years is dire. The estimatesindicate that:• revenues are expected to fall short of the 2020 Budget target by GH¢13,405 million (3.5%of revised GDP), and• expenditures, on the other hand, are expected to increase by GH¢11,788 million (3.1%of revised GDP), reecting mainly expenditures on COVID-19 Preparedness & ResponsePlan, provision of Health Infrastructure (Agenda 111, previously Agenda 88), Coronavirus Alleviation Programme, Capitalisation of National Development Bank, Security, Elections,and payment of outstanding claimsIn addition, overall real GDP growth for 2020, originally projected at 6.8 percent, has now beenrevised downwards to 0.9 percent. This is in sharp contrast to the robust growth path chartedover the past three years when real GDP growth averaged 7.0 percent between 2017 and 2019This has occasioned a revision of our scal targets for the year. As a result, it is projected thatthe adjusted performance at the end of 2020 will be:• a scal decit (on cash basis) of GH¢44.1 billion (11.4% of GDP) for 2020, up from theoriginal 2020 Budget target of GH¢18.9 billion (4.7 percent of GDP), and• a corresponding primary balance from a surplus of GH¢2.8 billion (0.7% of GDP) in theoriginal 2020 Budget to a decit of GH¢17.8 billion (4.61% of GDP)NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO139PART 2:COVID-19NEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
Ensuring that we stabilise the economy, revitalise and return to the path of pre-CoVID 19 growthis a priority of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over the next four years.Health SectorThe pandemic has placed a signicant strain on the manpower, infrastructure, and nances ofthe health sector:• demands on manpower and material resources have meant pressing healthcareprofessionals on retirement and on leave back to work• years of underinvestment in healthcare infrastructure have been laid bare by the pandemic• decreases in hospital attendance have had a negative eect on internal revenue generation,and an unwanted collateral of sick people not seeking hospital treatmentSeveral lessons have emerged from this pandemic, including the need to upscale our diseasesurveillance and health emergency response infrastructure, as well as bridging the gap in thedistribution of general health infrastructure across the country.Trade and Industry Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs), which form the backbone of theGhanaian economy – representing about 85% of all businesses and contributing about 70%of Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – have borne the brunt of the pandemic’s impacton trade and industry. In general, the trade and industry sector has been aected as follows:• pandemic containment measures have caused serious disruption to supply chains• decreases in demand and disruption to supply and distribution chains have meantreduced production capacity and products not reaching consumers• constrained revenues have placed additional stress on banks to underwrite defaults andthe costs of restructured debt, slowing down lending to businesses, and• women-owned businesses, which dominate the MSME sector, as well as female workers,who also dominate the hospitality sector, have been hit severelyThe disruption in global supply chains has provided an opportunity for Ghana to expedite itsindustrialisation drive. When it matters, many indigenous industries have been able to pivot tothe production of hand sanitisers, facial masks, mobile hand washing facilities and several otheritems, which were previously mainly imported. The pandemic has presented opportunities forexpanding our industrial footprint in many areas in the future. AgricultureSome of the pandemic’s impact on the agricultural sector are:• staple food prices have gone up as prices of agricultural inputs have increased due tolimited supply• rising international market prices and freight costs (which have risen by more than 100%)have resulted in increased prices of imported staples (rice, wheat, soya, poultry, tomatoesand cooking oil)NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO140PART 2:COVID-19
• prices of exports (cocoa, cashew, oil palm, shea, vegetables and fruits) have fallen. Forexample, the price of cashew has dropped by 60%, and• migrant labour in the sector has declined.This has aected the income of farmers, farmworkers, and many others along the value chain.The pandemic has taught us many lessons, such as:• disruptions in global supply chains have highlighted that countries, which are not self-sucient in staple foods (grains and other staples) to meet basic dietary and nutritionalneeds, are more vulnerable to shocks like the Coronavirus pandemic• in a post-COVID-19 world, there will be heightened threats and risks to unprocessedagricultural exports to key markets like Europe, United States and Asia. Access tomarkets may tighten, and products might face rejection on the basis of phytosanitaryviolations, and• in view of the above, improved value-addition in food processing is essential, both as aresponse to import substitution capacity and to access export markets for processedfoods.Hospitality A sharp decline (over 90%) in hotel occupancy rates, grounding of airline services, cancellationof international events, and closure of restaurants have signicantly disrupted the hospitalityindustry, and caused precipitous revenue losses, as border closures and general shutdown oftourism and demand for international travel take their toll.EducationThe closure of schools, from KG, through Primary, Junior High and Senior High Schools totertiary institutions, have disrupted academic calendars and timetables, preparation for nalexaminations, and have imposed adverse nancial strain on public and private institutions.However, to get the lives of our young students back on track, we, successfully, partially,reopened schools to allow nal year students from the Universities, Senior High Schools andJunior High Schools to take their exams. To this end, we committed signicant resources inproviding protective equipment for students, teachers, and support sta, and implementedstrict Covid 19 protocols for the operation of all the schools.Energy and PetroleumSince March, a wave of disruptions in the oil and gas sector has:• placed investments in the sector in jeopardy, with negative scal impact:• about 28 interrelated exploration and development drilling programmes are likelyto be shifted around over a 3-year period, beginning with the planned 5 explorationand appraisal programmes for 2020• exploration and appraisal budgets for 2020 are now being reviewed andreprioritised. Delays are expected and this will aect industry activities in 2021-2022, and• caused a decline in revenues as oil prices drop and create negative multiplier eectsdownstream, including job losses.NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO141PART 2:COVID-19NEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
2.4. Mitigating Measures ImplementedProviding Leadership Against the background of unpredictability, fear, and despondency, good leadership andmaintaining trust in government have been and will continue to be the key foundations tomanaging our COVID-19 response.Throughout the crisis, the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and his Government,have provided competent, consistent, honest and forward-looking leadership in the ghtagainst the pandemic to world acclaim.His famous words,“We know how to bring the economy back to life. What we do not know is how to bring people back to life. We will, therefore, protect people’s lives, then their livelihoods” resonated around the world, quoted by world leaders, inuencers, and media asan encapsulating and calming response to the global pandemonium caused by the pandemic.Under his leadership, Ghana continues to receive local and international plaudits in how itcontinues to handle the response to the pandemic. Decisions have been made guided by data,science, and in the public interest, and Government has acted to reinforce trust by mobilisingresources, domestically and foreign, human and material, from the private sector as well aspublic sectors, in dealing with the crisis. Ghana was ahead in implementing many key measureswhich were later replicated by other countries, including contact tracing, “pool” testing, andearly restrictions of travel and closure of borders. As a result of this good leadership and trust, Ghana has succeeded in limiting the spread,severity, and casualties from the pandemic.MeasuresTo mitigate the negative impact of the pandemic, Government implemented a Coronavirus Alleviation Package consisting of, as at end July 2020:• a US$100 million Preparedness Plan• nancial clearance was granted to employ additional 24,285 health professionals betweenMarch and June to help ght the pandemic. This was made up of:• 8,076 Nurse Assistants (clinical and preventive)• 5,786 Diploma Nurses and Midwives• 326 newly-inducted House Ocers• 10,097 Graduate Nurses and Midwives (both public and private)• nancial clearance was given for the employment of 5,928 healthcare professionals earlierin January• life insurance for health and allied personnel directly involved in ghting the pandemic• food supplies:• provided cooked meals to 2,744,723 vulnerable persons• in collaboration with Faith-Based Organisations, distributed dry food packages to470,000 familiesNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO142PART 2:COVID-19
• 584,000 nal year Junior High School students and 146,000 sta, of public and privateschools, to be provided hot meals from August 24 to September 18 as they write theirnal exams• transfer of over GH¢50 million to 400,000 most-vulnerable individuals under the LEAPprogramme• provision of 50% of basic salary as allowances for frontline health workers for 6 months(from April to September inclusive)• waiver of Income Tax for all healthcare workers for 6 months (from April to Septemberinclusive)• waiver of Income Tax on the 50% additional allowances paid to frontline health workers• free water consumption for all Ghanaians for nine months (April to December inclusive)• free electricity for Life-Line consumers for 6 months (from April to September inclusive)• 50% discount on electricity for other classes of consumers for 3 months (from April toJune inclusive)• a GH¢750 million soft loan programme, dubbed the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme-Business Support Scheme (CAP-BuSS) to support MSMEs (GH¢700 million) and, Creative Arts, the Media, and the Conference of Independent Universities (GH¢50 million)• a GH¢2 billion Guarantee Facility to support all large enterprises and for job retention. Thiswill enable these businesses borrow from banks at aordable rates and over long tenorsto adjust to the pandemic and to retain jobs• a GH¢100 million Fund for Labour and Faith-Based Organisations for retraining andskills development (Retraining Programme) and an Unemployment Insurance Scheme toprovide temporary income support to workers who are laid o due to the pandemic• reduction of Communication Services Tax (CST) from 9% to 5%• payment of WASSCE examination fees amounting to GH¢75.4 million for 314,000 SHS 3students• a suite of policy measures by the Bank of Ghana to provide support, through the bankingsystem, to businesses impacted by the pandemic, including:• reduction of the monetary policy rate by 150 basis points to 14.5%• a reduction in the Primary Reserve Requirement from 10% to 8% to provide additionalliquidity to banks to loan to support critical sectors of the economy• a reduction in the Capital Adequacy ratio from 13% to 11.5%• provision of a syndicated loan of GH¢3 billion to support industry, especially in thepharmaceutical, hospitality, service and manufacturing sectors• granting of a six-month moratorium of principal repayments for selected businesses,and• reduction of interest rates based on the Ghana Reference Rate (GRR) by 200 basispointsNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO144PART 2:COVID-19
• extension of due dates for lling of taxes from 4 to 6 months after the end of the nancialyear• remission of penalties on principal debts to taxpayers who redeemed their outstandingdebts due Ghana Revenue Authority up to 30th June, 2020• permit the deduction of contributions and donations towards the pandemic as allowableexpenses for income tax purposes• waiver of VAT, NHIL, and GETFund Levy on donations of stock of equipment and goodsfor ghting the pandemic, and• waiver of income taxes on Third-Tier pension withdrawals2.5. ConclusionThe CoVID-19 pandemic has created major disruptions in the lives and livelihoods of citizens,in business, industry, trade and commerce, and to macro-scal stability. Throughout theongoing crisis, the Government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has provided eectiveleadership, and acted as the custodian and guardian of our public health. We have learnt majorlessons in the process and will incorporate these lessons in our planning for future growth anddevelopment.NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO145PART 2:COVID-19NEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
PART 3POST-COVID-19 RECOVERYNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO147PART 3:POST-COVID-19 RECOVERY NEW PATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENT IN FREEDOM
3. The Ghana CoVID Alleviationand Revitalisation of Enterprises(Ghana CARES) ProgrammeThat COVID-19 has exposed our vulnerabilities as a nation cannot be overemphasised. It has,however, also revealed opportunities that we must seize. Together, these have underscored thesalience of the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda and an urgency to accelerate its implementation.The Ghana COVID-19 Alleviation and Revitalisation of Enterprises (Ghana CARES) Programmeis Ghana Beyond Aid in action: it is through the Ghana CARES programme that we planto Stabilise, Revitalise and Transform Ghana. The implementation of the Ghana CARESprogramme will restore growth to Pre Covid-19 levels and return the scal path to be within theFiscal Responsibility Act, 2018 (Act 982) threshold of 5% decit and positive primary balanceby 2023.The principal objectives of the Ghana CARES programme are:• the Stabilisation Phase (July to December 2020) our priority for this phase is to implement interventions that ensure food security and thatprotect businesses and jobs. In view of this, and among several other measures, thisphase of Ghana CARES will:• increase the original GH¢600 million soft loan programme, dubbed the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme-Business Support Scheme (CAP-BuSS), by an additionalGH¢150 million to support MSMEs (GH¢700 million) and also, the Creative Arts, theMedia, and the Conference of Independent Universities (GH¢50 million)• establish a GH¢2 billion Guarantee Facility to support all large enterprises and for jobretention. This will enable these businesses borrow from banks at aordable rates andover long tenors to adjust to the pandemic and to retain jobs• set up a GH¢100 million Fund for Labour and Faith-Based Organisations for retrainingand skills development (Retraining Programme)• establish an Unemployment Insurance Scheme to provide temporary income supportto workers who are laid o due to the pandemic• to ensure food security for the rest of the year, intensify support to the “Planting forFood and Jobs” and “Rearing for Food and Jobs” programmes, provide nancialsupport for the National Buer Stock Company and the Ghana Commodity Exchange,and set up a Food Security Monitoring Committee• implement a range of employment retention & support services to large enterprises,including:• clearing contractor arrears• paying new contractors more quickly• increasing government procurement for local businesses (e.g. PPEs,pharmaceuticals for health sector, and other supplies)NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO148PART 3:POST-COVID-19 RECOVERY
• commence — Agenda 111 (originally labelled Agenda 88) — to construct a 100-bedhospital in 101 districts that currently lack such facilities, a regional hospital in eachof the six new regions, a new regional hospital in the Western Region, rehabilitationof the Ea-Nkwanta Hospital, and build two new psychiatric hospitals as well asinfectious disease centres for each of the three ecological zones, and• leverage the Agenda 111 project to build local capacity in the housing and constructionindustry, strengthen the housing mortgage and construction nance scheme initiatedby Government and selected banks last year, and take measures to facilitate accessto land for housing by estate developers• the Revitalisation and Transformation Phase (2021 to 2023)over this period, we will invest in activities aimed at accelerating the Ghana Beyond Aidagenda. Specically, we will:• pursue the establishment of Ghana as a regional hub by leveraging the siting of theSecretariat of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in Ghana, and willinclude the establishment of the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC)• review and optimise the implementation of our Government agships such as 1D1F,PFJ, and Free SHS that depend primarily on Government’s budget nance for greaterresults, value-for-money, and scal sustainability• complement the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative with a targeted programme tosupport the activities of the Ghana Tree Crop Development Authority in promotingselected cash crops, support commercial farming and attract educated youth intoagriculture• build Ghana’s light manufacturing sector, including our capabilities to manufacturemachine tools to support our industrialisation• fast-track digitisation of government business as well as build a digital economy, and• strengthen the enablers of growth and transformation by taking strong measures toimprove the business environment for the private sector.We estimate the Revitalisation and Transformation phase of the Ghana CARES programmeto cost some one hundred billion Ghana Cedis (GH¢100 billion), about a third of which will befunded by central government, the rest being crowded-in from the private sector.NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO149PART 3:POST-COVID-19 RECOVERY NEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
PART 4BEYOND 2020NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO151NEW PATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENT IN FREEDOM
4. Consolidating Our Achievementsand The Way Forward4.1. Consolidating Our GainsBefore the eruption of the pandemic, the Government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo had made signicant progress towards building a Ghana Beyond Aid. We delivered andcontinued delivering quality results across all sectors, which have enabled us to blunt largelythe severest impact of the pandemic.Our plan over the next four years is to build on what we have achieved together. Incorporatingthe lessons learnt from the pandemic, we will consolidate the progress we have made on all ouragship policies, programmes, and initiatives across the various sectors, including:• continuing to improve on the over two million public and private sector formal jobs wehave created and support the informal sector to formalise and create more better-paying jobs• restoring and maintaining macroeconomic stability• rebuilding the agricultural sector through the programme for Planting for Food and Jobs(PFJ)• stimulating industrial growth through 1D1F• lling our physical infrastructure gap with roads and bridges• transforming the delivery of government services through digitisation• curbing bribery and corruption through greater transparency in a digitised environment• stimulating entrepreneurship and innovation• investing in building human capital through education• strengthening the NHIS and reducing unequal access to health• expanding the reach of social intervention and safety nets, and• building a safer, stronger and more prosperous GhanaIn tandem with this, we intend to create much greater scope for the participation of the privatesector in delivery of these public services, proof of eectiveness which we have demonstratedin many of our digitisation initiatives.4.2. What We Will Do in Specic SectorsWithin the context of the overall vision of a Ghana Beyond Aid, the focus on achieving theSustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the general principles we have identied above, thekey lessons learnt from managing the pandemic, and the tapping of the Private Sector for thedelivery of public services, we will, over the next four years, work on delivering the followingkey outcomes.NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO152PART 4:BEYOND 2020
The EconomyOur number one priority is to stimulate growth, development, and investment in the real sectorsof the economy, particularly in agriculture, industrialisation, and digitisation by ensuring macro-scal stability, and engendering the economic transformation of our country.Consistent with our vision of building a Ghana Beyond Aid, we will leverage the growingformalisation of the economy to deepen and widen our ability to mobilise domestic revenuesby continuing to broaden the tax base, simplifying the ling of taxes, and improving collectionregimes.IndustrialisationWe will:• support Made-in-Ghana products, including supporting the use of local raw materials• continue to ensure stable and aordable power for industrial development• promote the manufacturing of digital devices locally• continue to work with the private sector to establish more Special Economic Zones formanufacturing and support them with “last-mile” infrastructure services• nalise the establishment of the bauxite renery to complete the aluminium value chain• complete the establishment of an iron and steel industry through the Ghana IntegratedIron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC)• continue the process of providing gas infrastructure to bauxite renery sites• deepen and expand 1D1F in diversity and national coverage• process more cocoa and shea-butter locally• deepen the Automotive Assembly industry• produce at least half of Ghana’s sugar needs locally within the next four years• promote the local production of pharmaceuticals• complete the process of establishing a fertiliser producing plant in Ghana, and• for light manufacturing, renew the emphasis on component assembly, not just forautomobiles, but for home appliances, including electric fans, refrigerators, and air-conditioners to meet our growing domestic demand. AgricultureWe will accelerate:• our eorts in modernising agriculture along the entire value chain, including expandingour Agricultural Mechanisation Centres• support for farmers through:• increased supply of inputs• enhanced involvement of farm extension ocers to work with farmers and breeders• increased disease control• improved warehousing and post-harvest logistics, and• tighter linkages with industry mainly through 1D1FNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO153PART 4:BEYOND 2020NEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
• diversication of export-oriented, large scale agricultural enterprises in cocoa, palm oil,legumes, cereals, rice and horticulture, poultry and meat for regional markets• large-scale private sector investment in processing, packaging and export of agriculturalproduce• promotion of import substitution, with special focus on rice, sugar and poultry by• scaling up supply of improved seeds and fertilisers to farmers• promoting consumption of locally produced rice, sugar and poultry• supporting the private sector under the Rearing for Food and Jobs (RFJ) policy withsubsidised day-old chicks, feed, and vaccines• supporting soya bean production for the production of poultry feed• enhancement of small ruminant production with supply of improved breeds of sheep andgoats• the successful implementation of the Greenhouse Village concept, focusing especially onthe youth• activities under the Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) with the rapidgrowth of the Ghana Tree Crop Development Authority (GTCDA)• the development of the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam, and• access to nance through subscription to the Ghana Incentive-Based Risk-SharingScheme for Agricultural Lending (GIRSAL) programme to nance and de-risk privatesector investments in farming and other agricultural value-chain activities.Education:Over the next four years, we will:• consolidate the implementation of the Free SHS and Free TVET programmes• continue to increase the manpower resources and teaching facilities, including the useof ICT teaching aids, of public tertiary institutions to support the expected increases instudent population from the Free SHS graduates• make sure no student who has obtained admission to a tertiary institution is denied accessbecause they are unable to pay fees. We will provide all such students, with the exceptionof teacher and nurse trainees who are paid allowances, an option to obtain a student loan:• without the requirement of a guarantor for the loan, provided he or she has a NationalIdentication Number from the GhanaCard, and• defer repayment of the loan after National Service plus an additional one-year graceperiod• implement the US$219 million Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project(GALOP) to improve the quality of education in 10,000 low performing basic educationschools across all 260 districts and strengthen education sector equity and accountabilityin Ghana• learning grants will be disbursed to the targeted schools as a top-up to the capitationgrantNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO154PART 4:BEYOND 2020
• the programme will provide support and resources for teachers, support for schoolmanagement, accountability systems, and monitoring and evaluation• about 2.3 million pupils and 76,000 teachers from the targeted schools will benetdirectly from the project• put in place a comprehensive National Teacher Policy and implement a National DigitalLiteracy Project for teachers• the benchmarks will include teachers’ standards and professionalism, teachereducation and continuous professional development (including digital literacy), workingconditions, recruitment and retention, career structure and pathways for progression,recognition and reward system, accountability, school governance, social inclusionand social dialogue• train and employ more teachers for Early Childhood Education, Primary, French, STEM,TVET, Special Needs and other areas as needed• reduce the number of out-of-school children in Ghana by providing a uniform identicationand tracking of every student• establish a national Knowledge and Assessment Bank, a comprehensive digital libraryto allow all Ghanaian students/learners access to learning materials and also provide arepository of assessment tools for assessing learning by teachers and instructors• deepen the implementation and use of the iCampus portal which provides free access toeducational content for the core subject areas to all SHS students• continue to provide a 24-Hour dedicated television channel for the delivery of lessons onthe GBC Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) platform and the National DTT platform as a Free-to- Air Broadcast• implement a robust state of the art Learning Management System (LMS) to enableteachers create supplementary content and deliver online instruction and assessment• provide Made-in-Ghana digital devices pre-installed with digital content for SHS studentsand teachers• complete the provision of free Wi at all senior secondary schools and public tertiaryinstitutions and training colleges• complete the implementation of the 5-year Strategic Plan on TVET and establish a nationalSkills Development Fund• through the Zongo Development Fund, in collaboration with GETFUND, build 16 modelSenior High Schools in Zongo communities across the 16 regions of the country• increase resources and infrastructure for special needs education across the country• expand infrastructure to increase access to professional legal education• continue with our infrastructure development programme across all levels of the educationsector, and• implement the existing Inclusive Education Policy, by establishing, revamping orequipping regional special education assessment centres to facilitate early and accessibleassessment for children who may have special education needs.NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO155PART 4:BEYOND 2020NEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
Health:We will:• focus on health promotion and prevention as part of primary health care through theNational Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC)• currently, the NHIS covers about 95% of our disease burden, including primary,secondary, and some tertiary care. In addition, children, the elderly, and othervulnerable groups do not pay premiums as well• the missing link has been that the NHIS does not cover health promotion andprevention, a critical aspect of reducing the disease burden and making the NHISnancially sustainable• we have established Wellness Centres in the Dodowa, Legon, and Tema Hospitals asa rst step• over the next four years, we will bring health promotion and prevention as part ofprimary health care under the NHIS which will continue to be free for children, theelderly, and other vulnerable groups• review and overhaul healthcare nancing with the aim of• reducing the turnaround time of claims management to the barest minimum, and• ensuring the sustainability of the NHIS scheme• deliver on the largest healthcare infrastructure investment by any government in the lastfty years by undertaking Agenda 111 (previously Agenda 88) project which includes:• construction of 101 standard design 100-bed hospitals with accommodation fordoctors and nurses in the Districts without hospitals• construction of 6 new regional hospitals in the six new regions• construction of a Ghana Centre for Disease Control• 1 new regional hospital for the Western Region• rehabilitation of the Ea-Nkwanta Hospital in the Western region, into a virtually newfacility and• construction of 2 new psychiatric hospitals and rehabilitation of existing ones• construct infectious disease centres for each of the three ecological zones: coastal,northern and middle belt zones in the country• complete ongoing hospital projects and related infrastructure• complete the ongoing digitisation of medical records through the Patients RecordsManagement Systems (E-Health Solution) and use Health Information ManagementSystems and Health Analytics to improve quality of patient care• harmonise the functions of the Health Facilities Regulatory Agency (HeFRA), National HealthInsurance Authority (NHIA), Pharmacy Council (PC), and Health Professionals RegulatoryBodies (HPRB) with respect to facilities licensing, accreditation and credentialing under acommon legislative, regulatory and institutional frameworkNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO156PART 4:BEYOND 2020
• expand access to medical schools in Ghana by building additional facilities and augmentingits human resource base, and• work with the Ghana Medical and Dental Council to streamline the admission processesfor foreign-trained doctors• support the development of traditional medicine• while supporting the private sector to ramp up production locally, we will eliminate importduty on sanitary pads to improve health outcomes, particularly for girls• continue to recruit trained health personnel and distribute them equitably across thenation, and• focus on Telemedicine to enhance health delivery.Our Housing PlanIn the second term of the NPP Government, there will be a greater emphasis on housing deliverythrough the following initiatives.• Renting: To address the short-to-medium term market failures in the renter-segment of the housingmarket, the next NPP Government will establish a National Rental Assistance Scheme(NRAS). In partnership with the private sector, the Scheme will provide low-interest loansto eligible Ghanaians to enable them pay rent advance. These loans will be repaid on amonthly basis to match the tenor of the rent, and will be insured to ensure sustainability.Government will seed the Scheme with GH¢100 million which will be leveraged to crowd-in additional investment from the private sector. The Scheme will target individuals (both in the formal and informal sectors) with identiableand regular income. The rent advance loans will be paid directly into the bank accountsof landlords, who would have to register with the Scheme. As part of our interventions, we will implement the necessary regulatory, institutional, andoperational reforms of the Rent Control Department, including the digitisation of theiroperations, to enhance delivery, and make it better able to serve the changing needs ofmarket players, including landlords and tenants. A new Rent Control Act has been draftedfor review by Cabinet in this direction.• Low Income Housing: Our housing decit is particularly acute for low income households. We will address thissegment of the market by building low-income housing estates over the next four years,using local materials by working with the Building and Roads Research Institute andprivate developers. Land banks have been secured for this purpose, and the houses willbe available for rent, rent-to-own, or outright purchase.• Middle-Income HousingUnder an accelerated “National Housing Programme”, the number of housing units,currently being delivered annually nationwide by both the private and public sectors, willbe increased threefold. The NPP Government will set-up two anchor institutions: a Ghana Housing Authority(GHA), and a National Housing and Mortgage Finance Company (NHMF), workingNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO157PART 4:BEYOND 2020NEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
together but with dierent roles to drive the housing delivery process. The Ghana Housing Authority (GHA) will improve the legal and regulatory framework, create land banks, provideinfrastructure, and standardise houses. The NHMF will establish nancial arrangementsfor the demand and supply side housing markets by managing the Mortgage and HousingFund set up in the 2019 Budget, provide incentives to enable the private sector buildcommunities’/housing units, and create jobs in the process across all MMDAs in thecountry.Houses will be available to Government employees or other formal sector workers as well asthe informal sector.• We will also:• expand the capacity of State Housing Company Limited (SHC) to lead government’seorts, along with the private sector, to build a large pool of aordable homes forGhanaian workers and families• create Land Banks and provide Infrastructure in partnership with Land owners andDistrict Assemblies. The serviced plots will be managed by Ghana Housing Authorityto reduce the problems faced by individuals and real estate developers during theland acquisition process• promote and sponsor Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) as a vehicle to encouragerent-to-own schemes, private sector mortgage nance companies and mortgagebacked securities• review the Home Mortgage Finance Act, 2008 (Act 770) to ensure that foreclosureprocesses are simplied• implement more rigorously the tax-deductible mortgage interest regime• amend the law to allow for Pension Funds to invest more than 5% of their portfolio inreal estate assets, including pension backed mortgages• provide targeted, project-based tax incentives (instead of blanket incentives) forprivate developers to build more social housing, as well as inner city redevelopmentand revitalisation schemes, and• promote setting up of an integrated local manufacturing industry to support thehousing sector through tax incentives, creation of markets as well as tax rebates onsome imported materials among others.Physical InfrastructureThe provision of roads, highways, railways, water and sanitation infrastructure will continueto be a major focus of the next Akufo-Addo government. Our decision to set up a separateRailway Development Ministry, the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP)and the Development Authorities, as well as the Ministry of Inner City and Zongo Development,and the Zongo Development Fund, has led to signicant progress in adding to our railwayinfrastructure, in the provision of basic infrastructure at the local level and for specialdisadvantaged communities like the Zongos and Inner Cities, as well as the construction ofnew roads under the “Year of Roads” Programme.NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO158PART 4:BEYOND 2020
• Flagship Infrastructure Development Initiatives Over the next four years we will:• strengthen the capacity of Development Authorities and the Zongo DevelopmentFund, to enable them attract private investors to develop infrastructure in theircatchment areas and, give priority to completing all on-going projects under ouragship infrastructure policies of “Year of Roads”, “Water For All”, “Toilets For All” aswell as other local infrastructure, including, but not limited to:• infrastructure such as drains, culverts, feeder roads, classroom blocks, schoolfurniture, CHPS compounds markets, toilet facilities among others as part of theeorts to bridge the infrastructure gaps at the community level• Marine Drive Project• extending electricity to cover the entire population, and• completing Yendi, Tamale, and Damongo Water Supply Projects• commence construction of:• the Sunyani and Keta Water Supply Projects• the Weija Dam Rehabilitation Project• decommissioning and re-engineering of landll sites including the Kpone(Tema) and Oti (Kumasi) landll sites• Roads, Railways, Ports and Harbours Inadequate transport networks that connect cities, towns and rural areas, poor qualityroads, and growing urban trac congestion are critical areas requiring urgent action,as well as expansion in port and harbour infrastructure to enhance trade and promoteinvestments. Over the next four years, we will:• use Public-Private Partnership to accelerate the development of road infrastructurethrough toll-nancing• nalise our public transport policy for a network commensurate with the needs of afast growing economy• launch the biggest ever road maintenance infrastructure programme, as part ofimprovements in our existing road infrastructure and as a source of major job creationfor the youth. This will be targeted at youth-owned enterprises• re-launch the metro mass transport system throughout regional capitals• introduce innovative policies to facilitate urban trac de-congestion• complete development of the Buipe Inland Port• complete development of Coastal Fish Landing Sites• complete development of the Boankra Inland Port• upgrade Tema Shipyard and Drydock• Volta Lake Transport Improvement• complete development of Atuabo PortNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO159PART 4:BEYOND 2020NEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
• completion of the construction of the Western Line, and Tema to Mpakadan rail lines• commence construction of:• the Eastern Rail Line• the Aduadin to Obuasi Lines• the Ghana – Burkina Line• a new line between Sekondi and Shama Free Zone area• a new harbour in Cape Coast, and• a new airport in Cape Coast• prioritise feasibility studies in establishing a rail link through Kasoa to Accra with theview to establish a railway line service to reduce signicantly travel time to and fromthat fast-growing part of Greater Accra and Central Regions.• Continue investing in the expansion of infrastructure at all public tertiary institutions toenhance capacity and facilities to absorb the expected increases in student populationas graduating students from Free SHS pursue further education• Bridging the Development Gap between the North and the South We will continue to implement existing policies and ongoing projects to bridge thedevelopment gap between the northern and southern regions of Ghana e.g. IPEP, 1V1D,1D1F, Pwalugu Dam, Critical Roads, Ghana—Burkina Rail Link among others, as well asrevamp the cotton industry, establish rice mills in rice producing districts, revamp damssuch as Vea, and Bontanga (Tono has been rehabilitated), develop the Buipe in-land port,district hospitals and regional hospitals in districts and region without, construction ofthe Daboya and Dikpe bridges, upgrade the Tamale Airport, pursue the Iron and SteelIndustry project, and continue the exploration for oil in the Voltain basin amongst others• Use of Local Content in Infrastructure DevelopmentGovernment makes signicant investments in public infrastructure development, includingroads, schools, hospitals, clinics, oce buildings among others. Most of our roads areconstructed with asphalt overlay or with bitumen surface dressing (BSD), and most publicbuildings are constructed with cement and concrete materials. 90% of the raw materialsfor producing these two primary products are however imported, costing the countrymore than $1billion annually.On the other hand, we have demonstrated the availability and durability of local buildingmaterials, including burnt bricks and Pozzolana cement. Several brick factories can befound in the Ahafo, Ashanti, Bono and Central regions. We have also two Pozzolanacement factories in Ghana.Over the next four years, we will actively mainstream the use of these, and other localmaterials in public sector infrastructure projects.Energy and PetroleumOver the next four years, our priority in the energy and petroleum sector is to increase eciencyand ensure value-for-money for all activities, including reliable and aordable power generationand distribution, and further development of the oil and gas sector, as well as renewablesources. We will pursue this goal through the following measures:NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO160PART 4:BEYOND 2020
• enforcing competitive procurement of power, the least cost fuel procurement, andminimising excess capacity charges through the ongoing renegotiation exercise toimprove upon the nancial health of the sector• reducing losses, particularly in power distribution, by ensuring ECG and NEDCo implementincentive-based loss reduction targets for all District Managers• signicantly improving revenue collection with the implementation of remote sensingtechnology which is currently being piloted by ECG• completing ongoing rural electrication projects to ensure transformation of our ruraleconomies• continuing the Auction-Based Licensing strategy for exploratory Oil Blocks to ensurevalue for money, and• enforcing Local Content policies for the Upstream and Downstream sub-sectors.Security and Safety Over the last three and a half years, we have made signicant resources available towardsenhancing public safety and security. We have invested in enhancing logistical and operatingcapabilities of the security services. We have also invested in improving the overall conditionsof service of the men and women responsible for public safety and national security, includingthe ongoing improvement of accommodation for the military through the National BarracksRegeneration Programme.To enhance further the peace and security of the country over the next four years, we willcontinue with these investments and continue to invest in new technologies to improve thecrime-ghting capabilities of the security forces, including the continued deployment ofcameras to assist in ghting crime under the ongoing Alpha project.We will also continue with the National Barracks Regeneration Programme to improve theaccommodation of the military.Social ProtectionThe NPP Government, past and present, is the only party with a proven track record in designingand implementing social protection programmes that have provided much needed support tothe vulnerable and disadvantaged in Ghana. From health insurance through school feeding tofree SHS, we have continuously demonstrated our credentials in building a fair and equitablesociety.To improve on our delivery mechanisms, we have established a Social Protection SingleWindow Citizens Service. This is designed to provide a single-entry point for the major SocialProtection Programmes. We have also made progress on data collection and management ofthe Ghana National Household Registry (GNHR).In the next four years, we will institutionalise and combine the GNSF and major Flagship SocialProtection Programme databases and link them to the National Identication Card to create a“Single Registry” system. This will help manage both the selection, identication, and provisionof social protection services and benets to the vulnerable and disadvantaged.We will also, in line with our social development philosophy, ensure the enactment andoperationalisation of the Ageing Bill, as well as the Armative Action Bill.NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO161PART 4:BEYOND 2020NEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
In addition to the several interventions we have made to improve the lives of Persons LivingWith Disability (PLWDs), including the increase in the share of Common Fund from 2% to3%, the allocation of GH¢4 million to the Presidential Empowerment for Women EntrepreneursWith Disability (PEWED) and Presidential Empowerment for Male Entrepreneurs With Disability(PEMED) to expand their businesses, and the Inclusive Education Policy which we areimplementing, we will expand the scope, membership, and mandate of the Inter-MinisterialCoordinating Committee tasked with mainstreaming disability issues in local government, toencompass the implementation, broadly, the provisions in the Persons With Disability Act, 2006(Act 715), in particular in addressing access to facilities, transportation and equal employmentopportunities.Foreign AairsDuring our rst term, we have been consistent in our eorts to deepen Ghana’s diplomaticfootprint and strengthen relations with other countries in pursuit of our national interests. Thenext few years will be challenging in the context of the Coronavirus pandemic. It threatens toshift economic and diplomatic alliances as well as geopolitics. In view of this, we will be morestrategic in our international engagements by focusing on economic, commercial and businessbenets accruing to Ghana.We will:• continue to promote and support ECOWAS and the AU domestically and internationallyto accelerate the pace of regional and continental integration and engage as a united frontin global relations• as the host country of the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),be very active in seeing to the operationalisation and success of AfCFTA • expand the level of engagement with, and promote the interests of the Ghanaian and African Diaspora• continue to facilitate the election and appointment of Ghanaians to positions in variousinternational organisations. To this end, the Foreign Aairs Ministry has created aCandidatures Unit to pursue aggressively vacancies that may occur in various internationalorganisations and recommend, as well as support suitable Ghanaians to apply• strengthen our engagement, among others, at the multilateral level including Sessions ofthe United Nations General Assembly, United Nations and other international Conferences,Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings, and La Francophonie (OIF)• exchange of High-Level Visits consistent with eorts to deepen substantially Ghana’sinternational diplomatic footprints and strengthen bilateral relations in pursuit of ourpolitical, cultural, and economic interests, and• strengthen relations with countries in the Americas, the Caribbean, and AsiaIn addition, we will:• introduce chip-embedded passports to keep up with technological advancement andenhance the security of Ghanaian passports, and• implement the project to issue Machine-Readable Visa StickersNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO162PART 4:BEYOND 2020
Tourism, Arts and CultureThe last three and half years have demonstrated that, with the right incentives and investments,we can create signicant economic value and jobs from the tourism and hospitality industry.The “Year of Return” initiative is one such example. The peaceful resolution of the longstandingDagbon conict with the immense contributions of the Chieftaincy institution demonstrates theincreasing importance of “culture” in helping to maintain democratic institutions and peacefulco-existence in Ghana. Over the next four years, therefore:• we will construct one of the biggest convention and exhibition centres in the world at theGhana Trade Fair Company site, La• we will work with professionals in the industry to make Ghana the destination of choice insub-Saharan Africa, and to attract investments into, and unlock the commercial value ofthe sector• Government will work with the House of Chiefs for the:• passage of the Chieftaincy Amendment Bill• coming into eect of The Legislative Instrument On Membership of National andRegional Houses of Chiefs• increase in budgetary allocation to House of Chiefs (for example, allowances forcommittee meetings and capital expenditure)• codication (and digitisation) of Customary Law and Lines of Succession• completion of the National House of Chiefs’ Complex and construction of new ocesfor the House of Chiefs in the six new regions, and• enhanced consultation with Chiefs in the appointment of government representativesto the district and municipal assembliesCreative Arts Industry as a Growth PoleThe creative arts industry comprises a vast array of talented and skilled individuals such aswriters, sculptors, graphic designers, textile makers, dancers, actors, musicians, and fashiondesigners. It is arguably the oldest industry in Ghana.It is a sector with a high potential for job creation, especially for the youth, and is a driver ofeconomic growth. The World Economic Forum has noted that creative thinking will be oneof the most important skills needed to survive and thrive in the fourth industrial revolutionworld of robotics, articial intelligence and automation. This is because artistic success inthe creative arts is dened by individual talent or merit. It is, therefore, somewhat immune toautomation. It is dicult to automate creativity, passion and compassion. The industry, thus,oers opportunities for viable and long-lasting jobs. It is also a vehicle for tourism growth.Notwithstanding the obvious potential of the creative arts industry, Governments over the yearshave invested relatively little in the industry. With the coming into oce of the NPP in 2017, weset out to write a dierent script for the creative arts industry. In this regard, we have:• set up the National Folklore Board to enforce the copyright of Adinkra and Kente symbols• set up the Creative Arts Council to organise the processes leading to the drafting of theCreative Arts Bill and the establishment of the Creative Arts Fund. It works closely withNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO163PART 4:BEYOND 2020NEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
associations in the Arts, including MUSIGA, Performers, FIPAG, Arts Association andothers to ensure the industry consolidates and moves faster• inaugurated the National Film Authority in December 2019. Its aim is to make Ghana thehub of lm production in Africa• drafted a Creative Arts Bill which has been approved by Cabinet for submission toParliament for enactment. The Bill will, amongst others, set up a Creative Arts Fund toprovide funding to the industry• completed the construction of a performing arts theatre in Koforidua and another isongoing in Kumasi• begun construction in Kwadaso of Ghana’s rst creative arts Senior High School• hosted the “Year of Return” programme, which provided a major boost to the creative artsindustry, and• begun to implement the “Beyond the Return” programmeIn our next term of oce, we will make the Creative Arts Industry a major growth pole in ourGhana Beyond Aid agenda, and, to give eect to this, we have included it as one of the coreindustries for which we want to make Ghana a hub in West Africa. This will require signicantgovernment investment to support the industry and the youth in particular. Specically:• we will set up the Creative Arts Fund to support artists• in addition to completing the theatre in Kumasi, we will construct new theatres in Takoradiand Tamale• given that our artists do not have the capital to set up studios, we will, as part of theentrepreneurial hubs strategy, establish, in partnership with the private sector, largerecording studios in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and Takoradi. Recording artists can rentspace to do their recordings in these studios, and• we will build a digital platform for artists to make their products available to the globalmarketGovernanceIn the next four years, we will continue pursuing reforms to strengthen governance institutions,including local government and anti-corruption institutions.• We will improve development outcomes through local government by:• working to build consensus towards amendment of Articles 55(3) and 243 of theConstitution and other consequential laws to allow for the direct, popular election ofMMDCEs on a partisan basis and to devolve more powers to local authorities• ensuring the completion of property valuation and digitisation of valuation rollsacross the country by devolved oces of the Land Valuation Division of the LandsCommission in all MMDAs to improve local revenue from property taxation• ensuring the integration of “One District One Factory’ (1D1F), ‘Planting for Export andRural Development’ (PERD), and ‘One Village One Dam’ (1V1D) and other governmentinitiatives into the core deliverables of MMDAs to stimulate local economic developmentNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO164PART 4:BEYOND 2020
• mainstreaming social protection measures into MMDAs’ operations by using, at least,5% of local revenue for vulnerable and disadvantaged households, and• decentralising, based on the new Registration of Births and Deaths Bill we havepassed, and completing the digitisation of the Births and Deaths Registry• We will continue to improve on the institutional and legislative reforms started in our rstterm to strengthen the capacity of governance and anti-corruption institutions to deter,detect, and prosecute corrupt activities. In furtherance of this, we will:• continue to improve the nancing of governance and anti-corruption MDAs like theMinistry of Justice and Oce of the Attorney General, Oce of the Special Prosecutor,Oce of the Auditor General, NCCE, CHRAJ, and EOCO, to enable them recruit,continue to train, and retain dedicated sta to support the ght against corruption• provide resources for the Right to Information Commission to operationalise eectivelythe Right to Information Law• enact and implement the Broadcasting Bill in accordance with the Constitution• implement the Media Capacity Enhancement Programme and intensify theimplementation of key programmes in the sector, and• assist the National Media Commission to implement fully the Coordinated Mechanismfor the Safety of JournalistsSports DevelopmentIn the next four years, Government will create opportunities for many more citizens to participatein sports for recreation and laurels, to enhance the image of Ghana at international sports, andas a viable commercial and job creation opportunity for Ghanaians, especially the youth. In thisdirection, we will:• build a fully-functional Multi-Purpose Youth and Sports Centres of Excellence in each ofthe six newly-created Regions in addition to the Ten (10) already under construction andnear completion• host and organise the 13th African Games in 2023. This will aord Ghana the opportunityto construct a National Olympic Stadium Complex to bridge the nation’s sportsinfrastructure decit. The Games will also provide the opportunity to address capacityand facility deciencies for the organisation of all sports and more importantly, rebrandthe popular inter-schools and colleges sports towards mainstreaming their products intonational teams for all international games• upgrade the National Sports College into a National High-Performance Training Centre(NHPTC), equipped with the facilities and human resource, capable of conducting researchinto sports performance and management related issues and disseminating ndings torelevant stakeholders. The Centre will also train and retrain sports coaches and ociatingocials as well as oer camping/training facilities to national and international teams• as part of a rapid Elite Sports Performers Development Pathway, house National Sports Academies in three of the Multi-Purpose Youth and Sports Centres of Excellence, oneeach in the Southern, Middle, and Northern belts. Talents in selected sports disciplinesin which Ghana has comparative advantage will be selected nationwide and put in the Academies to school, train and ultimately, compete for the nationNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO165PART 4:BEYOND 2020NEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
• continue to rehabilitate all other National Sports Stadia, and establish sustainablemaintenance culture in our stadia management system. Government has alreadyrehabilitated and brought to life the Accra Sports Stadium, and rehabilitation of Essipongand Kumasi stadia are ongoing• having cooperated with FIFA, the world football governing body, to reorganise andstrengthen the Ghana Football Association (GFA), support the nation’s football teams,especially the Black Stars and Black Queens, through the GFA, to bring back the gloryand international stature of Ghana as a force in the world of football, and• under the Zongo Development Fund, introduce the Zongo Youth Football Talent Hunt(ZYFTAH) programme, a special program for the youth in Zongos which will help unearth,develop and promote football talents in Zongo communities through competitions andfootball clinics in collaboration with local and international partners. Having showedcommitment to promoting the development of football in Zongos by building 10 Astroand Green turfs in Zongos across the country, and with the intention to build more, theZongo Youth Football Talent Hunt (ZYFTAH) will make the construction of these parks,and many more to be constructed, more useful and meaningful to the youth in Zongosthrough competitions and talent-hunt programmes under ZYFTAH.NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO166PART 4:BEYOND 2020
PART 5 ACCELERATING GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATIONNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO169PART 5: ACCELERATING GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATION NEW PATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENT IN FREEDOM
5. Digitisation and The Transformationof The Ghanaian Economy5.1. The Digitisation Journey Since coming into oce in January 2017, our digital development focus has been guided bythe need to:• improve the delivery of public services• formalise the economy• improve revenue mobilisation• deepen and broaden inclusiveness in our development processes, and• curb bribery and corruption.Over the last three and a half years, we have implemented the following ve, foundationalbuilding blocks for the achievement of our digital strategies, namely the establishment of:• the biometric National ID Card (NID), or the Ghana Card: this provides a unique bio-identication for all Ghanaians and residents, including ngerprints, facial recognition, andirises. The Ghana Card will help us better identify individuals, families, and communities,and using related data, for example, better direct social protection programmes to thosewho need it most. It will also help us optimise the delivery of public services, and improveaccess to, and quality of these services at aordable rates. The Ghana Card will be the“Central Nervous System” of our digital assets, and, in the long-term, other nationalidentity cards will be replaced by the Ghana Card• the Ghana Post GPS or the National Digital Addressing System, which provides anaddress system using unique postal codes for every property within Ghana. The systemallows for the easy location of addresses as well as for the delivery of goods and servicesacross the country, and will be the backbone of Ghana’s e-commerce market• the Mobile Money Payments Interoperability System, which makes it possible for thetransfer of funds from mobile money accounts to bank accounts (back-to-back) and frommobile or bank accounts to biometric payment card accounts, for example e-Zwich. Thetriangular mobile money payments interoperability as well as the Ghana Dual Card allowsfor the seamless movement of cash across bank accounts, mobile wallets and e-Zwichcards. It has allowed all mobile money users to have practically bank accounts• Ghana.Gov (Digital Payment Platform), which is a one-stop shop platform to enablecitizens easily access government services, simplify payments for public services, ensureprompt payments for the services and promote transparency and visibility of governmentrevenues, and• Universal QR Code, which takes us to the last mile of the payment system of everydayeconomic transactions of most citizens. The platform provides a secure, convenient andlow-cost payment platform to the vast majority of Ghanaians, especially in the informaland MSME market.NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO170PART 5: ACCELERATING GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATION
These platforms and initiatives have worked together to transform the lives and businesses ofcitizens and corporate Ghana, and is helping transform and reshape how our economy works.The benets of reducing ineciencies, tracking inputs and outows more accurately, shorteningturnaround time, and ease of access to required information and services translate intangibletime into tangible currency and increased productivity.One of the key lessons from the pandemic is that a robust digital economy is absolutely criticalfor growing economies like ours, not only to enable us to drive growth, but also to managecritical systems, from health through manufacturing and delivery systems in times of crisis. TheMobile Money Payments Interoperability System turned out to be a critical lifeline to individualsand small businesses, including e-commerce rms, to send and receive money and payments,which helped cope with the disruptions caused by the containment measures.The Ghana Card, the Digital Address System, the Mobile Money Payments InteroperabilitySystem, the Ghana.Gov Payments Platform, and the Universal QR Code are key enablers ifGhana is to harness the potential of digital technologies. Our goal is to link the Ghana Card andDigital Address System databases to the “Birth and Death Registry”, closing the nal loop inidentication of citizens and residents.5.2. Building a Digital Services Economy and Creating a Digital HubWe have, since 2017, demonstrated the potential for public policy to inspire digital transformationinitiatives. The next step is to create a digital services economy through the expansion of theGhana Innovation Hub project to nurture start-ups to accelerate the development of applicationssoftware, provide regional e-backroom services, and enterprise-level software.Over the next four years, we will leverage on our existing digital infrastructure and make thenecessary investments and policies to establish rmly Ghana as the digital services hub ofWest Africa. Specically:• putting in place the next generation of connected market infrastructure on which thegovernment and the economy can ride. This initiative will connect key pieces of Ghana’snational infrastructure, including identication, electronic KYC, and payment systems toimprove transparency, promote competition, lower costs and ensure digital inclusion• rationalisation of the functions of institutions in the technology space to avoid functionaloverlaps, as well as streamline the legal and regulatory framework in line with internationalbest standards• updating of Ghana’s spectrum policy and regulations to promote greater transparency,competitive and rapid expansion of internet services to rural areas• enhancement of our soft infrastructure, by establishing a national data centre thatcentralises all digital information and data storage, management and protection• leveraging of digital transformation as a driver of growth, by increasing broadbandcoverage throughout the country, as well as increasing access and aordability of digitaldevices• investment in human capital to build our digital skills base, by continuing our investmentsin teaching ICT from primary schoolNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO171PART 5: ACCELERATING GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATIONNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
• creation of a large local digital market in West Africa and beyond, and provide solutions toproblems in the region• exploration of innovations to make sure the visually impaired are not left out of the ongoingdigital revolution• reducing the high cost of data in Ghana• while the cost of data has gone down signicantly (by 40%, from $1.56 per 1G in 2019to $0.94 in 2020) and placed Ghana as the sixth cheapest in Africa, our goal is to beamong the cheapest• to do this, we will reduce taxes on digital devices• reduce spectrum and license costs, and• reducing further the cost of international calls to support both regional and internationaltrade, by:• removing the mandatory $0.19 per minute tari for international incoming calls andreplacing it with a competitive regime• converting the $0.06 surcharge to an ad valorem taxNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO172PART 5: ACCELERATING GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATION
6. Building The Private SectorFor Accelerated Growth At the heart of the President’s vision for a Ghana Beyond Aid is “a prosperous and self-condentGhana that is in charge of her economic destiny.” Being in charge of our economic futurerequires a vibrant and successful private sector aligned with this vision.It also requires us, as a Government, to maintain macroeconomic stability, remove theconstraints and bottlenecks in the way of the private sector, incentivise the sector, and createthe enablers for achieving our collective national vision.In line with this, and building on from what we have achieved over the last three and a halfyears, we plan, over the next four years, to:• set out a clear cluster of core economic sectors to guide private sector investments• tackle the longstanding, key binding constraints to private sector growth• promote enablers for private sector growth• invest in the development of an entrepreneurial culture, and• build a resilient nancial services sector for economic transformation6.1. Core Economic Clusters to Guide Private Sector InvestmentsTo move Ghana Beyond Aid from vision and closer to reality over the next four years, wewill actively promote, encourage, and support private sector investments in the following coreeconomic clusters:• agro-processing, using local raw materials• the “Strategic Anchor Industries”:• value addition to our mineral and petroleum resources in: petrochemicals, industrialchemicals based on industrial salt, iron and steel, aluminium, and gold• vehicle assembling and automotive industry• labour-intensive and light manufacturing activities, such as component assembly andtextiles and garments, that take advantage of our youthful labour force• pharmaceuticals, vegetable oils and fats (in particular oil palm), industrial starch fromcassava, and machinery and equipment manufacturing• developing Ghana into a Regional Hub, by leveraging its position within ECOWAS and ashost of the Secretariat of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The sectoralfocus will be on the following:• Financial Services Hub• Mining Hub• Aviation and Logistics Hub• Petroleum HubNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO173PART 5: ACCELERATING GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATIONNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
• Automobile Hub• Tourism, Hospitality, and Creative Arts Hub, and• Digital Services HubIn the last three and a half years, our agship initiatives in agriculture, industry, and serviceshave all seen increased private sector participation. Ghanaian-owned technology rms havecollaborated with government in the delivery of public services, from passport processing todrivers’ license acquisition, the National Identication Card and Digital Addressing projectsamong others. We will deepen this relationship over the next four years to grow the coreeconomic clusters.6.2. Tackling the Binding Constraints in Private Sector GrowthThe longstanding, key constraints to the growth of the private sector in Ghana, which we intendto tackle in a transformational way over the next four years, are:• the cost of power• access to, and cost of nance, and• the business environmentTogether, these constraints continue to increase the cost of production and make Ghana-madegoods uncompetitive, as well as stiing innovation and entrepreneurship by start-ups andyouth-owned businesses. We intend to increase the pace and focus of our existing initiatives,as well as introduce new ones, to address the constraints in our next term to liberate theenergies of the private sector.The Cost of PowerTo address this constraint, we will implement measures to reduce signicantly the cost ofpower and to make it the most competitive in West Africa for industrial use. In particular, wewill:• review and restructure our energy-mix to generate cheaper sources for industries,including gas and renewable energy• complete the re-negotiation of the existing power purchase agreements to reduce thetake-or-pay commitments and the excess capacity charges that translate into higherpower taris• rationalise the fuel-mix for thermal plants on the basis of cost eciency• improve eciency by cutting down the technical and transmission losses of GRIDCO,and ECG. These operational and ineciency losses also translate into their high revenuerequirements, which then mirror into high taris to households and businesses. Access To, and Cost of FinanceParticipating in achieving the Ghana Beyond Aid vision along the core economic clusters wehave envisioned means an increasing reliance on public-private sector arrangements. Ourstrategic objective is, therefore, to provide the nancial and related muscle that our Ghanaian-owned businesses need to be successful.NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO174PART 5: ACCELERATING GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATION
To address this constraint, we will:• reduce the risk of lending by leveraging on technology to reduce information problemsbetween lenders and borrowers. The introduction of the National Identication card andDigital Addressing System should pave way for an improvement in the operations of creditbureaux, leading to a de-risking in lending and reduction in default premiums charged bybanks• restructure and redirect existing funding arrangements• several public-sector funds and institutional arrangements already exist to supportbusinesses, industries, and entrepreneurs e.g. Venture Capital Fund and NEIP• we will overhaul and restructure these funds and institutions to redirect their focusand to optimise better the use of funds to achieve better results• replenish the funding of the restructured funds and institutions, and• use these public-sector funds to crowd-in private sector funds• we will use preferential tax regimes and rst options on Government of Ghana-fundedprojects to direct projects to private sector businesses• complete the establishment of a new Development Bank for Long-Term CapitalMobilisation A critical gap in nancing large-scale industrialisation and agricultural projects is the lackof domestically-managed long-term capital sources. To address this gap, we will completethe establishment of a new, non-deposit taking Development Bank to mobilise long-term domestic and foreign capital to fund our agricultural and industrial transformationobjectives. The Bank will operate as a Wholesale Bank.• we will leverage Foreign Debt-Financed Projects to Support Domestic Capital Formation Most international commercial loans for infrastructure projects often come with acontractor/service provider from the lending country to partner with a local sub-contractor.The loan conditions often include tax waivers for the international contractor that does notextend to local contractors.There are three eects of this arrangement:• it subsidises the international contractor to the detriment of Government and localcontractors• it often does not allow Government to assume ownership of equipment used onprojects for which it pays through the loan and exemptions from taxes, and, moreimportantly• limits the capacity of indigenous, Ghanaian-owned businesses to access capital,experience and competitiveness with which to execute later projects in Ghana orinternationallyUnder the next government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, our rst optionto nance infrastructure projects would be non-EPC tied structures, including usingspecialist funds like municipal or diaspora bonds. Where non-EPC tied structures are not available, we will prioritise partnerships in whichequipment bought for and paid with part of the loan will be well-maintained and transferredNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO175PART 5: ACCELERATING GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATIONNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
to Government. The equipment will be placed in a Plant Pool from which indigenous,Ghanaian-owned businesses can rent at subsidised rates for local and internationalprojects.• We will scale back Government activities, which crowd out the private sector Central Government, historically, has engaged in activities and in sectors that shouldhave been led by the private sector. In procurement, nancing, and business, “the state’s”activities have over time become a disincentive for private sector investment. We wantto scale this back, which in eect will open up nancing for the private sector. Over thenext four years, we will optimise how government approaches its capital expenditure asfollows:• purchases of equipment, vehicles, and similar assets remain major capital expenditureitems of government. They also remain some of the less eciently managed assetsover the years. Initial capital outlays, as well as increasing lifetime cost of totalownership, mean we have to adopt dierent ways of acquiring capital equipment. For example, a major bottleneck in equipping our health centres, from clinics throughpolyclinics to general and specialist hospitals, is the initial cost of medical equipmentand devices. Over the years, we have tried dierent methods, including raising loansto purchase equipment. There has been a lot of wastage in lack of maintenance of oce equipment, only fornew ones to be purchased every scal year. In the next NPP Government, we shall implement a National Equipment LeasingPolicy (NELP) covering medical equipment, vehicles, photocopiers, printers, andscanners among others as part of the measures to manage more eciently our capitalexpenditure budget.For example, as an alternative to the outright purchase of oce equipment likephotocopiers and printers, we shall acquire a full service operating lease service, inwhich a provider leases printers and copiers to government and is responsible for thereplacement of toners, repairs, maintenance, and replacement for an agreed fee.For medical equipment, we shall generally employ a Build, Lease, Operate, and Transfer(BLOT) policy, through which private sector operators will be oered concessions atpublic sector health facilities to bring in and operate equipment. At the end of theconcession period, the equipment is transferred to government.• We will continue to ensure that the nancial sector is strong, competitive, and resilient,and able to provide the necessary nancing in support of private sector growth• We will continue to issue long-dated bonds to set benchmarks for, and enable corporateGhana raise funding through long term corporate bonds• We will exempt prospecting and reconnaissance by mining rms from VAT and other taxes,to incentivise investment in exploration activities to delineate ore bodies as a means toensure a pipeline of mining projects• To complete the process of scal reforms in the mining sector, we will enact the MineralsRevenue Management Act, similar to the Petroleum Revenue Management Act, using theMinerals Income Investment Fund Act, 2018 (Act 978), which we passed as the foundationNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO176PART 5: ACCELERATING GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATION
Improvement of The Business Environment:The NPP government has embarked on a coordinated national programme to improve theenvironment for doing business in the country. The strategic objective is to maintain Ghana asamongst the most business-friendly nations in Africa, through sustained improvement in thebusiness regulatory environment.Recent reforms have led to an improvement in our World Bank’s “Ease of Doing Business”ranking from 120 in 2017 to 118 out of 190 economies in 2019. Ghana has also become thehost for the Secretariat of the largest single market in the world, the African Continental FreeTrade Area (AfCTA).We have strengthened the legal framework to improve transparency in the business environmentand to ght corruption, including, passing into law:• The Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency Act, 2020 (Act 1015)• The Companies Act, 2019, (Act 992), which provides, among others, a framework forestablishment of a benecial ownership register• The Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2019 (Act 989), passed after 21 years since it wasintroduced and having gone through six parliaments under the 4th Republic• The Witness Protection Act, 2018 (Act 959)• The Oce of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2018 (Act 959)• The Public Financial Management Regulations, 2019 (LI 2378)We have implemented several digitisation initiatives to prevent public-sector corruptionWe have applied Open and Competitive Bidding for, and conducted Ghana’s rst open biddinground for, oil blocks, andWe have established a National Register of Contracts/Register of Petroleum Agreements asprovided for by the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act, 2016 (Act 919). This enablesanyone trace who the benecial owners of interest in oil blocks are.In our next term, to reform further the business and regulatory environment, we will:• introduce a risk-based licensing and inspection system, and remove the licenserequirements for all companies that do not pose any health or public safety risk• continue to modernise the legal framework for investment and business, includingcontract enforcement, the Borrowers and Lenders Act and Construction Sector LI• implement fully recently enacted business laws, The Companies Act and CorporateInsolvency Law• introduce a single business identier for interactions with all government agencies toreduce compliance cost and time for the private sector• set up a one-stop shop that gathers together all agencies involved in the buildingpermitting process for improved service delivery• continue to improve access to land, especially to give certainty of title for investors by:NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO177PART 5: ACCELERATING GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATIONNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
• supporting reforms in land administration, including increasing resources to thecourts for the speedy adjudication of land disputes• completing the digitisation of land records and the electronic database forencumbrances• completing the digitisation of maps and operationalise an electronic geographicinformation system (GIS)• increasing the geographic coverage of the Land Registry, and• setting up a specic, separate and independent mechanism for ling complaintsabout issues related to title transfers, maps and site plans• introduce regulatory exibility for MSMEs to improve compliance post COVID-19 by:• introducing a specic tax regime for MSMEs with specialised, exible provisions• oering online tax ling and payment for MSMEs• reducing the time required for VAT refunds for all companies, and• introducing a risk-based system to make tax audits more ecient• prioritise payment of Government arrears owed to the private sector to increase liquidityavailability, and• prioritise eorts to retain and grow existing investment by providing targeted “investoraftercare initiatives” to key FDI and anchor rms in Special Economic Zones and their leadlocal suppliers in order to preserve and expand supply chains.6.3. Promoting enablers for Private Sector GrowthIn addition to tackling the long-term binding constraints, we intend to resolve four critical issuesthat will serve as enablers for private capital investment. These are:• digitisation of Lands Administration• reforming Local Content rules• supporting Export Development and Diversication, and• the Transport Sector Recapitalisation ProjectDigitisation of Lands AdministrationThis project is the nal stage to propel land administration in Ghana to a fully digitised andautomated process that will lead to certainty of title, transparency on ownership, includingpotential encumbrances, and ease of issue and transfer of land titles both for general users andprivate sector investors.Over the next four years, using a Private Sector Participation Partner (PSP), we will address vemain issues on the entire process and management of land title administration:• improved Maps and Spatial Data• digital transformation of Lands Commission• decentralisation of Land Service DeliveryNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO178PART 5: ACCELERATING GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATION
• systematic recording, verication and creation of National Cadastre, and• capacity development, improved work culture and corporate governanceOn completion, our land administration platform will have a registry, a single source datamanagement point, a valuation module, as well as a front-end for the public to query landrecords.Reform Local Content RegimesOver the years, various local content laws and programmes have been tried with limitedpositive impact, especially the initiatives which focus on setting restrictions on equity andsector participation.It is increasingly clear that one area, which has been largely neglected, is the supply andservices value-chain. In our next term, we will, among other actions:• place more emphasis on Ghanaian participation along the supply and services value chain,in addition to mandatory local equity participation. While Ghanaian equity participationwill remain desirable and a key plank in our policy toolset, we will explore options toupscale participation along supply and services value chains, and• place strong emphasis on capacity development so we can have more technical expertsacross all the skills areas for the oil and gas and other natural resources sectors.Export Development and DiversicationWe have developed a National Export Development Strategy to guide our support for thegrowth of the export market, in particular Non-Traditional Exports (NTEs)The next four years, under our plan to support the private sector and to promote a set of coreeconomic clusters, we will increase our investments in the support of exports in three areas:• construct one of the biggest convention and exhibition centres in the world at the GhanaTrade Fair Company site, to attract foreign trade and investments particularly in NTEs• partner the private sector to complete the development of industrial parks under the “OneRegion, One Park” Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Programme, one in each region, toanchor labour-intensive manufacturing for exports. To this end, a special economic zonepolicy framework will be implemented in our next term, and• use the Ghana Tree Crop Development Authority (GTCDA) as an anchor, and increasefunding for the development of Non-Traditional Exports (NTEs) of selected agriculturalcropsTransport Sector Recapitalisation ProjectThe Transport Sector Recapitalisation Project (TSRP) is driven principally by the lack of a long-term, ecient nancing mechanism for commercial transport owners and operators which inturn has resulted in:• high costs of operating old, dilapidated, and un-roadworthy vehicles, and• partially, high number of deadly road accidentsTo address this, over the next four years, we will implement a Government-backed, privatesector-led Lease-To-Own nancing arrangement that will provide the long-term nancingNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO179PART 5: ACCELERATING GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATIONNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
commercial vehicle owners and operators need to replace aged and un-roadworthy commercialvehicles.Under the scheme:• private sector commercial vehicle owners and operators will turn-in their existing, agedvehicles, in exchange for nanced, new vehicles, and• the new vehicles will be Made-in-Ghana by private-sector assemblers of taxis, trotros,trucks and buses. As a special incentive, a component of the TSRP will extend a nancing arrangement toteachers, nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals to acquire vehicles throughGovernment-backed, private-sector leases.TSRP will boost the market for vehicle leasing, locally assembled vehicles, light manufacturingindustries and distribution of automobile parts, and the recycling market. Another major benet of TSRP will be the reduction of vehicle-related road accidents. One ofthe major causes of road accidents is the nature of our roads, and while we have embarkedon the massive “Year of Roads” initiative to address this, over the next four years, we will alsoturn our attention to another major cause of accidents: aged, usually un-roadworthy vehiclesthrough the TRSP.6.4. Investing in Building an Entrepreneurial Culture: Youth Developmentand Entrepreneurship SupportOur youth – 15 to 35 years old – make up about 34% of the population. They represent thefuture, and therefore our best opportunity to develop the entrepreneurial and economic potentialof Ghana.Over the last three and half years, we have developed and implemented many initiativesdesigned to place the youth in the forefront of national development:• we have created over two million jobs in the public and private formal sectors since2017 (inclusive of Government job-creation programmes and initiatives such as Plantingfor Food and Jobs, NABCO Graduate Programme and National Entrepreneurship andInnovation Plan)• our policies have also led to signicant job creation by the private sector, for examplethrough the revival of the Obuasi Mine of Anglogold Ashanti. Since its restart, from June2018, to June 2020, the Obuasi Mine has employed 4,163 people on the mine rehabilitationproject, with 78% of the US$502 million so far spent going directly to Ghanaian-owned(39%) and Ghana-domiciled (39%) rms that hires Ghanaians, and over two-hundred andfty thousand private formal sector jobs according to data from the Social Security andNational Insurance Trust (SSNIT)• we have established a national job recruitment agency through the Youth Employment Agency’s (YEA) Job-Matching Centres to match Ghanaian youth with job openings• we have supported youth-owned businesses and initiatives through:• the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP)• President’s Business Support ProgrammeNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO180PART 5: ACCELERATING GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATION
• Greenhouse Villages Initiative• ENABLE Youth 1D1F Projects Initiative• Youth In Agriculture (GASIP Project)• Students Entrepreneurship Initiative• Presidential Empowerment for Women Entrepreneurs with Disability• Presidential Empowerment for Male Entrepreneurs with Disability, and• Campus Business Pitch• we have implemented the Ghana Innovation Hub (GIH) project for young innovators andbusinesses• we have abolished the payment of utility bills in public tertiary institutions• we have increased the student loan amounts by 50%• we have invested in Free SHS/TVET, with Free Wi-Fi, to provide the youth with the basictools they need to engage with the economy and mobilised resources for investment inschools and STEM programme, and• we have invested in building ten (10) multipurpose Youth and Sports Resource Centres ofExcellence to provide recreational, sporting and entrepreneurial training facilities for theyouth, including FIFA-standard football pitches. Each Centre has:• ve-thousand (5000) capacity spectator stand, including VIP stand with the possibilityfor expansion• a FIFA standard football pitch• 8-lane athletic track (articial surface)• a tennis court• multi-purpose court for basketball, handball, netball and volleyball• gymnasium for Fitness Training and Martial Arts• Counselling Centre• ICT Centre• Entrepreneurship Training Centre• restaurant, and• 200/300-bed hostel in selected centres earmarked to host sports academies.However, we have barely scratched the surface of utilising Ghana’s youthful demographicdividend. To do this, we believe we need to accelerate the participation of young Ghanaians inthe economy through entrepreneurship and industry. We intend to do this by reinforcing all theexisting programmes we have implemented to create jobs and support young entrepreneurs,while mainstreaming their participation in new initiatives, including:• continuing to reduce the cost of data to support youth-focused entrepreneurship andinnovation in the technology and digital economy• while the cost of data has gone down signicantly (by 40%, from $1.56 per 1G in 2019to $0.94 in 2020) and placed Ghana as the sixth cheapest in Africa, our goal is to beamongst the cheapestNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO181PART 5: ACCELERATING GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATIONNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
• to do this, we will reduce taxes on digital devices, and• reduce spectrum and license costs• implementing the Job and Skills ProjectUnder the US$200 million project, the youth will be provided with apprenticeship,entrepreneurship, and skills development training as well as grants for their entrepreneurshipprojects. A second component of the project will be aimed at supporting young jobseekers to nd jobsthrough public employment centres across the country.• establishing Entrepreneurial Hubs for Small Businesses The major constraints facing small businesses include access to capital, cost of machineryand land, and high interest rates. Many businesses have good ideas, but are unable toraise money to nance these ideas In our next term, we will set up fully serviced hubs in partnership with the private sectorwith the requisite equipment for production in areas such as tailoring, agro-processing,shea butter production, soaps, and shoe manufacturing So a producer of uniforms, for example, would not tie up money in equipment. The personcan rent time at the hub, use the equipment, produce the uniforms, leave and return whenthe person has another contract. These business hubs would be located within regionalindustrial parks initially, and extended to every district in due course• On the back of a successful “Year of Return” Programme, we launched the “Beyond theReturn” initiative as the long-term platform for the African and Ghanaian Diaspora to stayconnected to Ghana. We are also continuing the Marine Drive project, and investing inseveral initiatives in supporting the creative arts sector. To develop further the adjacentsectors of tourism, hospitality and creative arts, we have included them as part of theindustries for which we want to make Ghana a hub in West Africa. The youth have alwaysbeen at the cutting edge of the creative arts industry, and we will support talents underthe overall youth development and entrepreneurial support programme• Housing, especially for rent, is one of the major issues that aect the youth and their fullparticipation in the economy. While targeted at Ghanaians of all ages, we will mainstreamaccess to the youth from our new initiative, the National Rental Assistance Scheme(NRAS), which will, in partnership with the private sector, provide low-interest loans toeligible Ghanaians to enable them pay rent advance, and• formalise and facilitate the participation of youth-owned businesses in:• the value-chains of businesses operating under the Strategic Anchor Industries (SAI)which have seen investments from global rms like Volkswagen and Sinotruk• the project to manufacture and supply Made-in-Ghana digital devices to SHS studentsand teachers, and• the roads improvement and maintenance infrastructure initiative planned for our nexttermNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO182PART 5: ACCELERATING GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATION
6.5. Building a Resilient Financial Services Sector for EconomicTransformationConsolidating our successes, building Ghana into a Regional Hub, transforming the agriculturaland industrial sectors and supporting them with long-term nancing, investing in youthdevelopment and entrepreneurship, and mobilising resources to nance the recovery andtransformation of the economy require a resilient nancial services sector.Over the next four years, we will, in addition to the specic initiatives we have mapped outpreviously, invest in:• mobilising private capital to fund part of the Ghana CARES Programme• implementing the Ghana Capital Market Master Plan, and• completing the implementation of the International Financial Services CentrePursuing these objectives will enable us build a strong and resilient nancial services sectorthat will support Government raise the necessary private sector capital to nance MSMEs;heavy and light industrial activities; agricultural nancing; housing sector nancing, includingconstruction, mortgages, and rent nancing; leasing market development, including publicand private sector capital expenditure nancing; nancing of infrastructure development;commercial banking; insurance and pensions; and capital and private equity markets tounleash the collective energies of Ghanaian entrepreneurship for economic transformation. Astrong and resilient nancial services sector will crowd in the GH¢70 billion required to matchGovernment’s GH¢30 billion needed to nance the Ghana CARES programme.In particular, we will leverage strengths of public-sector nancial institutions like the GhanaInfrastructure Investment Fund (GIFF), the proposed Development Bank, as well as geo-nancialarrangements like the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), which is receiving supportfrom the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the strategic siting of the African ContinentalFree Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat in Ghana, to create a regional nancial services hub thatwill contribute in large measure to the deepening of both domestic and regional capital marketsto nance our economic transformation agenda. The implementation of the Ghana CapitalMarket Master Plan will more than double the portfolio of nancial and investments productsand services in Ghana, and in the region.The clean-up of the nancial services sector, which our Government stepped in to nance andensure an orderly exit of failed institutions, has set us on a path to a stronger and more resilientbanking sector, and we will, over the next four years, build upon this to nance the economictransformation of Ghana towards building a Ghana Beyond Aid.NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO183PART 5: ACCELERATING GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATIONNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
PART 6CONCLUSIONNEW PATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENT IN FREEDOMNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO185
7. Transformation for a Ghana Beyond AidOver the last three and half years, we have stabilised and prudently managed the economy.Disciplined scal management, a predictable monetary policy, a sound banking system,lowering of ination and interest rates, and better access and delivery of public services havebecome a hallmark of the presidency of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.We have turned agriculture into a major growth driver through our programme for Planting forFood and Jobs, helping improve farmer incomes, meeting local food needs, and exportingto the region. We have sowed the seeds for an industrial expansion through the One DistrictOne Factory and Strategic Anchor Industries policies to transform Ghana’s economy from anexporter of raw materials to that of a private sector powered value-added economy. We havereduced the overall tax burden on businesses to stimulate production, and reduced electricitytaris for all other consumers.We have made investments to balance the infrastructure gaps between major cities andtowns, between urban and rural communities, and between suburbs, inner cities and Zongos.Initiatives such as IPEP and the Zongo Development Fund are helping provide much-neededlocal infrastructure in water, sanitation, and health in order to improve the standard of living ofGhanaians living in disadvantaged communities.We have invested in programmes and initiatives to protect the vulnerable and the disadvantaged,and to provide social safety nets through Free SHS/TVET policies, expansion of the SchoolFeeding Programme and LEAP, reduction in utility taris for households, increases in fundingallocations to Persons Living With Disability (PLWDs), and strengthening the NHIS.We have supported the youth and youth-owned businesses through NEIP, The President’sBusiness Support Programme, Campus Business Pitch and Greenhouse Villages initiative.We have provided strong, decisive leadership in managing the Coronavirus pandemic and itseects, and committed signicant nancial resources in helping households, health workers,businesses, workers and MSMEs cope with the disruptions to lives, livelihoods, supply chains,and business continuity.The result of all of this is a doubling of our economic growth and the creation of over two million jobs in the public and private formal sectors since 2017 (inclusive of Government job-creationprogrammes and initiatives such as Planting for Food and Jobs, NABCO Graduate Programmeand National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan). Since its restart, from June 2018, to June2020, the Obuasi Mine has employed 4,163 people on the mine rehabilitation project, with78% of the US$502 million so far spent going directly to Ghanaian-owned (39%) and Ghana-domiciled (39%) rms that hire Ghanaians.We have shown that, with good governance, we can help make life better for every Ghanaian,young and old, no matter where you live in this country.NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO186PART 6:CONCLUSION
We want to do more over the next four years towards our overall vision of a Ghana Beyond Aidthrough:1. Consolidating Our Achievements: Over the last three and a half years, we havedelivered and continue delivering quality results across all sectors, and this has enabledus to blunt largely the severest forms of the pandemic. Our plan over the next four yearsis to build on what we have achieved together. Incorporating the lessons learnt from thepandemic, we will consolidate the progress we have made on all our agship policies,programmes, and initiatives across the various sectors, including continuing with “FreeSHS”, “Planting for Food and Jobs”, “One District, One Factory”, “IPEP”, and “ZongoDevelopment Fund” among the many others. In consolidating our successes, we willfocus on process improvements, budget optimisation, and delivery of core public goodsand services by addressing market failure challenges, while creating much greater scopefor the participation of the private sector in delivery of these public services, proof ofeectiveness which we have demonstrated in many of our digitisation initiatives2. Building a Resilient and Dynamic Economy and a Regional Hub for Job Creation: The Coronavirus pandemic has rearmed our vision of building a Ghana Beyond Aid,one of the key pillars of which is to build a resilient economy with the nancial strength tofund public services, and to ensure a strong Ghanaian presence and capacity across thesupply and services value chains of all the major sectors. We will build on the stable andpredictable foundation we have crafted, and make the right investments to develop Ghanainto a Regional Hub for Financial Services, Aviation and Logistics, Petroleum, Automobiles,Digital Services, Tourism, Hospitality and Creative Arts; diversify our economy; substituteimports; accelerate technology adoption and build a digital economy; and create morehigh-value jobs through the Ghana CARES programme3. Industrial Transformation: Building on the “One District, One Factory” and “Strategic Anchor Industries” policies, we will continue to promote agro-processing, including cocoaprocessing, add value to our minerals and petro-chemicals, promote labour-intensiveand light manufacturing activities, continue the development of the Aluminium, Iron andSteel industries along their entire value chains through GIADEC and GIISDEC, establish aDevelopment Bank to mobilise long-term capital for lending through banks for large-scaleagricultural and industrial projects, and leverage our Regional Hub status and as hosts forthe Secretariat of the AfCFTA to expand our access to regional and continental markets4. Agricultural Transformation: As a source of livelihood for nearly 60% of our population,agriculture is a key growth pillar in building a Ghana Beyond Aid. We will continue ourinvestments to strengthen our food security, provide raw materials for our agro-processingindustry, create jobs, and increase substantially our foreign exchange earnings5. Investing in Education: At the heart of building a Ghana Beyond Aid is a skilled, well-educated citizen prepared for a value-added, well-paying job. We will continue ourinvestments in providing Free SHS and TVET Education, continue with the implementationof the free Wi for SHS and public tertiary institutions project, roll out the US$219 millionGALOP initiative to resource students and teachers in disadvantaged schools, and expandthe use of technology as learning aids in schools by students and teachers. We will alsocontinue to increase the manpower resources and teaching facilities, including the useof ICT teaching aids, of public tertiary institutions to support the anticipated increases instudent population from the Free SHS graduates, as well as resources and infrastructurefor special needs education across the country. We will make sure no student who hasNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO187PART 6:CONCLUSIONNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
obtained admission to a tertiary institution is denied access because they are unable topay fees, by providing them an option to obtain a student loan without the requirementof a guarantor for the loan, provided the student has a National Identication Numberfrom the GhanaCard, and to defer repayment of the loan after National Service plus anadditional one-year grace period6. Investing in Health: The global pandemic has reinforced the adage that “a sound mindin a sound body” is our best defence against new diseases and economic meltdowns.This dovetails into the Ghana Beyond Aid’s grounding in healthy, active citizens withskills and education prepared for the future. In addition to all the interventions we havemade in the health sector, including the provision of, for the rst time in our history, over300 ambulances, we will, over the next four years, complete the delivery of the largesthealthcare infrastructure investment by any government in the last ve decades, includingthe construction of 101 District Hospitals with doctors and nurses accommodation, 7new regional hospitals, rehabilitation of the Ea Nkwanta Hospital, 2 new psychiatrichospitals, 3 infectious disease centres for the three ecological zones, a Ghana Centre forDisease Control, as well as complete ongoing projects in the health sector. We will alsobring health promotion and prevention as part of primary health care under the NHIS,which will continue to be free for children, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups toachieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC). We will remove import duties on sanitary padsto improve health outcomes for girls while supporting local production to meet demand,complete the ongoing digitisation initiatives, while also increasing the manpower resourcesin the healthcare sector. We will invest in expanding infrastructure in medical schools totrain more doctors, and streamline the admission of foreign-trained doctors into Ghana7. Establishing a National Rent Assistance Scheme: While we continue to pursue long-term solutions to the development of the housing market, to address, in our second term,the short-to-medium term market failures in the renter-segment of the housing market,we will establish a National Rental Assistance Scheme (NRAS). In partnership with theprivate sector, the Scheme will provide low-interest loans to eligible Ghanaians to enablethem pay rent advance. These loans will be repaid on a monthly basis to match thetenor of the rent, and will be insured to ensure sustainability. Government will seed theScheme with GH¢100 million which will be leveraged to crowd-in additional investmentfrom the private sector. The Scheme will target individuals (both in the formal and informalsectors) with identiable and regular income. The rent advance loans will be paid directlyinto the bank accounts of landlords, who would have to register with the Scheme. Aspart of our interventions, we will also implement the necessary regulatory, institutional,and operational reforms of the Rent Control Department, including the digitisation of itsoperations, to enhance delivery and make it better able to serve the changing needs ofmarket players, including landlords and tenants. A new Rent Control Act has been draftedfor review by Cabinet in this direction8. Investing in Physical Infrastructure: A fundamental pillar of the Ghana Beyond Aid visionis building a united Ghana. This is why we have invested in bridging the infrastructural gapsbetween the north and south, rural and urban, and suburbs, inner cities and Zongos. Wehave been building water and sanitation systems, schools and healthcare facilities, small-earth dams and dugouts, markets and security infrastructure through agship initiativessuch as IPEP and Zongo Development Fund. To complete the loop, we have also investedin road and rail infrastructure. While continuing these investments, our major focus overthe next term will be housing, railway, and roads infrastructure. We will deliver roads underNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO188PART 6:CONCLUSION
the “Year of Roads” project, complete the Tema-Mpakadan rail project and commence allthe others. We will also continue investing in the expansion of infrastructure at all publictertiary institutions to enhance capacity and facilities to absorb the expected increases instudent population as graduating students from Free SHS pursue further education9. Using Digital Transformation as an Enabler of Growth (Soft Infrastructure): Digitisationis a key enabler under the Ghana Beyond Aid vision, supporting the systems we need toimprove domestic revenue collection and be more accountable in management of publicfunds. We will continue with the digitisation of public services we have championed overthe last three and a half years. In the next four years, we plan to build a digital serviceseconomy through the expansion of the Ghana Innovation Hub project to nurture start-ups to accelerate the development of applications software, provide regional e-backroomservices, and enterprise-level software. The foundational Ghana Card, Digital AddressSystem, Mobile Money Payments Interoperability System, Ghana. Gov PaymentsPlatform, and Universal QR Code, together with a digitised “Birth and Death Registry”,will serve as the key enablers for our digital services economy push over the next fouryears. We will also implement the newly enacted Registration of Births and Deaths Bill todecentralise the registration of births and deaths as part of the reforms10. Investing in Youth Development and Entrepreneurship: The Ghanaian youth is at thecentre of the growth agenda of our Ghana Beyond Aid vision, particularly in the rolesof entrepreneurship and digitisation in the growth of the economy. We have kept faithwith the youth by creating over two million jobs in three and half years which mostlybenets the youth. We have invested in youth-focused entrepreneurial programmes andfree secondary and technical-vocational too. Over the next four years, we plan to tacklethe rental segment of the housing market providing the youth with low-interest loans toenable them pay rent advance. We will also implement programmes to reduce further thecost of data to support youth-focused businesses, and to be the drivers of our digitalservices. We will implement the US$200 million Job and Skills Project which will provideyouth-owned small businesses with grants, training, apprenticeship, and entrepreneurialskills. Furthermore, we will designate the creative arts industry as a major growth pole andestablish a Creative Arts Fund to support artists11. Leveraging Sports for Development: We will also develop and leverage sports activitiesto create commercial and professional opportunities for the youth. In furtherance of thisobjective, we will, over the next four years, build six additional, fully functional Multi-Purpose Youth and Sports Centres of Excellence in each of the six newly createdRegions, host and organise the 13th African Games in 2023 which will aord Ghana theopportunity to construct a National Olympic Stadium Complex to bridge the nation’ssports infrastructure decit, and upgrade the National Sports College into a NationalHigh-Performance Training Centre (NHPTC), equipped with the requisite facilities, totrain and retrain sports coaches and ociating ocials as well as oer camping andtraining facilities to national and international teams. We will also, as part of a rapid EliteSports Performers Development Pathway, select and train talents in selected sportsdisciplines in which Ghana has comparative advantage to compete for the nation, and,under the Zongo Development Fund, introduce the Zongo Youth Football Talent Hunt(ZYFTAH) programme, a special program for the youth in Zongos, which will help unearth,develop and promote football talents in Zongo communities through competitions andfootball clinics in collaboration with local and international partners. We will continue torehabilitate all other National Sports Stadia, and, having cooperated with FIFA, the worldNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO189PART 6:CONCLUSIONNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
football governing body, to reorganise and strengthen the Ghana Football Association(GFA), support the nation’s football teams, especially the Black Stars and Black Queens,through the GFA, to bring back the glory and international stature of Ghana as a force inthe world of football12. Strengthening our Private Sector: Towards the building of a Ghana Beyond Aid, we seethe private sector taking the lead in partnering government to deliver public services. Wewill support the private sector by tackling the cost of power, access to and cost of nance,business environment bottlenecks, including continuing to improve access to land andintroducing regulatory exibility for MSMEs to improve compliance post COVID-19, usingour local content strategy to promote Ghanaian participation in supplies and services valuechains, export development and diversication, youth development and entrepreneurship,and rethinking public sector capital expenditure so it can better play its role in buildinga Ghana Beyond Aid. In addition, over the next four years, we will implement a NationalEquipment Leasing Policy, covering medical equipment, vehicles, photocopiers, printers,and scanners as part of the measures to manage more eciently our capital expenditurebudget. Under the policy, as an alternative to the outright purchase of oce equipmentlike photocopiers and printers, we shall acquire full service operating lease services.Furthermore, to address the lack of a long-term, ecient nancing mechanism forcommercial transport owners and operators, we will implement Government-backed,private sector-led Lease-To-Own nancing arrangement that will provide the long-termnancing commercial vehicle owners and operators (taxis, trotros, trucks, and buses)need to replace aged and un-roadworthy commercial vehicles with new Made-in-Ghanavehicles. We will also extend a nancing arrangement to teachers, nurses, doctors, andother healthcare professionals to acquire vehicles through Government-backed, private-sector leases, as well as support reforms in land administration, including increasingresources to the courts for the speedy adjudication of land disputes13. Protecting the Vulnerable and Disadvantaged (Social Intervention/Protection): AGhana Beyond Aid is a vision of a society which implements meaningful programmesto support its vulnerable and disadvantaged. Our record in designing and implementingsocial protection programmes is unmatched, and we will continue to show faith in ourpeople. We will continue to implement programmes like Free SHS, aordable water andelectricity taris and employment for people with disabilities, among others. To servebetter Ghanaians, we will, over the next four years, institutionalise and combine theGhana National Household Registry and major Flagship Social Protection Programmedatabases and link them to the National Identication Card to create a “Single Registry”system. This will help manage both the selection, identication, and provision of socialprotection services and benets to the vulnerable and disadvantaged. We will alsocontinue, in line with our policy interventions to promote and support women in business,the professions, society, and in politics, as well as the promotion of the health of younggirls, their education and participation in sports, pass the Armative Action Bill, increaseour support for women-owned businesses which dominate the MSME sector and employmany female workers, and support the private sector to ramp up production, locally,of sanitary pads while eliminating import duty on them until production catches up. Inaddition existing interventions,we will expand the scope, membership, and mandateof the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee tasked with mainstreaming disabilityissues in local government, to encompass the implementation, broadly, the provisionsNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO190PART 6:CONCLUSION
in the Persons With Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715), in particular in addressing access tofacilities, transportation and equal employment opportunities.14. Promoting Good Governance and Fighting Corruption: Achieving a Ghana Beyond Aid requires “a Government which is more transparent, [and] accountable with zerocorruption.” Over the last three and a half years, we have strengthened the regulatoryand legal framework to ght corruption by implementing several digitisation initiatives aswell as passing into law several pieces of anti-corruption related legislation, including theWitness Protection Act, 2018 (Act 959), the Oce of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2018(Act 959) and the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2019 (Act 989) to unearth public-sectorcorruption. In addition, more than forty (40) high prole persons have been charged forvarious acts arising out of actions and activities superintended by the Mahama-led NDCadministration involving, in monetary terms a total of US$265.5 million and GH¢2.225billion. To date, six (6) have been found guilty. Over the next four years, we will improvethe nancing of governance and anti-corruption MDAs as we have done over the last fewyears, to enable them recruit, continue to train, and retain dedicated sta to support theght against corruption and provide resources for the eective functioning of the Right toInformation Commission15. Ensuring Security and Safety: A Ghana Beyond Aid requires maintaining public safetyand security so that citizens can go about their lawful activities in peace and safety.Over the last three and a half years, we have invested signicantly towards enhancingpublic safety and security by providing equipment and logistics to the security services,including over 1,300 vehicles, recruitment of over 4,000 police personnel, training of 15,000Community Police Ocers, training and equipping of drug enforcement ocials, andconstruction of housing units and accommodation for the security services. In addition,the successful implementation of the Accra Initiative, so-called because of the origin of theidea, involving the consistent collaboration and co-operation of security and intelligenceheads from Ghana and our neighbouring countries, namely Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso,Togo, Benin, Mali and Niger, continue to be our concrete contribution to the ght againstterrorism in our region. Through joint security operations, such as KOUDANGOU and theongoing Operation CONQUERED FIST, we will continue to reinforce the security of ournorth-western, northern and north-eastern borders to guard against any inltrations intothe country. In this regard, we will enhance the capacity of our security forces throughthe provision of equipment, logistics, intelligence capability, and training to maintain thepeace and ght crime within our borders, as well as international terrorists who mayseek to destabilise our country. We will continue to tackle the long-standing housingproblem that has faced our security services by undertaking signicant investments inhousing projects of varying sizes for the men and women of the security services, whichis ongoing under the National Barracks Regeneration Programme for the military16. Building a Resilient Financial Services Sector for Economic Transformation: Consolidating our successes, building Ghana into a Regional Hub, transforming theagricultural and industrial sectors and supporting them with long-term nancing, investingin youth development and entrepreneurship, and mobilising resources to nance therecovery and transformation of the economy requires a resilient nancial services sector.Over the next four years, we will mobilise private capital to fund part of the GhanaCARES Programme, implement the Ghana Capital Market Master Plan, and complete theNEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO191PART 6:CONCLUSIONNEWPATRIOTIC PARTYDEVELOPMENTIN FREEDOM
implementation of the International Financial Services Centre to help crowd in the GH¢70billion required to match Government’s GH¢30 billion needed to nance the Ghana CARESprogramme. We will leverage the strengths of GIFF, the proposed Development Bank, theIFSC, and the AfCFTA to create a regional nancial services hub that will contribute inlarge measure to the deepening of both domestic and regional capital markets to nanceour economic transformation agenda.NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)• 2020 MANIFESTO192PART 6:CONCLUSION
