The NDC Women’s Organiser for the Eastern Region, Shirley Naana Osei Ampem has said the implementation of the pro-poor education policy, the Free SHS, has been problematic since its inception under the Akufo-Addo administration.
He said the numerous challenges that have characterised the government’s flagship programme has badly affected the performance of its beneficiaries in the country’s universities.
Speaking to Prince Minkah on TV XYZ breakfast show, Dwaboase, the vociferous women leader said the government erred by not consulting widely before implementing the policy in 2017 and as a result affected the academic performance of the students who graduated from most of the second cycle institutions into universities.
She argued that the programme should have been implemented after enough infrastructure had been secured for the millions of students to enjoy.
“The NPP implemented Free SHS poorly and as we speak the performance of these students in the various universities is nothing good to write home about,” Naana Ampem stated in Akan.
To her, the bad policies of the NPP government have gravely affected millions of Ghanaians and the free SHS is a classic example of how the men at the helm of affairs are bereft of ideas and must be voted out in the December elections.
Urging Ghanaians to believe in NDC flag bearer, John Mahama, she assured that the party leadership had taken notice of the numerous challenges of Ghanaians including the economic meltdown under the NPP government and are prepared to solve them when votes to power.
Unsatisfactory Performance
In May last year, the Deputy Ranking of Parliament’s Education Committee disclosed that there had been concerns among tutors about the performances of the beneficiaries of Free SHS in public universities.
Dr Clement Abass Apaak said the performance of the students had sparked agitations from some lecturers who were seeking to propose an entrance exam module for students who had enrolled under the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy.
He explained further in an interview with Joy News that the agitation was informed by the abysmal academic performance of students under the programme in the universities.
This, he said was disclosed by lecturers at the various university campuses.
According to him, the said students passed their West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) with good grades but were struggling to cope academically in the universities.
“You can call a few of my colleagues who are still at the universities, lecturers, and ask them about the quality of students who are coming through these days. They will tell you that the quality is unsatisfactory,” Apaak added.
The late National Executive Committee (NEC) member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Araba Tagoe, will be laid to rest this weekend.
According to the funeral arrangements, there will be no wake. Her body will be laid in state at the Family Residence, at Kawanupaado in Cape Coast on Friday, 19th January 2024 for filing past.
Burial Service shall take place at the St. Frances De Sales Catholic Church this Saturday after which mourners shall converge at the Cape Coast Sport Stadium for the funeral rites.
Former President, John Dramani Mahama, his 2020 Running Mate, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, NDC National Executives, MPs former appointees, the Western regional branch of the NDC among other sympathizers are expected to join the mourners.
Araba Tagoe, firebrand and radical party member, well known for her forthrightness, brevity and commitment towards grassroots mobilization of the party, died on Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital where she was on admission.
She was a staunch supporter of Sekondi Hassacas, and was twice the NDC Deputy Women’s Organiser for Western Region.
The Thanksgiving Mass is slated for Sunday 21 January 2024 at the St. Frances De Sales Catholic Church, Cape Coast.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ekumfi, Abeiku Crentsil, has expressed dissatisfaction with President Akufo-Addo’s reasons for neglecting development in the area.
Though Mr Crenstil has described the comments as unfortunate, he says it is an effective campaign tool that will boost the gains of the NDC.
“To me, I can say that the president has more or less spoken for the people to keep on voting for the NDC. Because indeed, he knows that if the NPP is in power for whatever years, there is nothing they can offer the people of Ekumfi. He’s finished our campaign for us,” he said in an interview on Accra-based Citi FM.
In a meeting with the Kyedomhemaa of Ekumfi Traditional Area, Nana Enyimfua III, the President explained that, he abandoned the area because constituents voted out the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Francis Ato Cudjoe in the 2020 elections.
Akufo-Addo said he appointed the MP as Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture to bring development to the area.
But once he lost the seat to the NDC, the people of Ekumfi also lost their developmental projects.
However, the MP has argued the NPP has occupied the seat longer than the NDC and if they[NPP] wanted to develop the area, they would have done that.
“It is a very unfortunate statement, a very, very unfortunate talk because this is my second term of being an MP for the people of Ekumfi. And indeed when you go to Ekumfi, whatever development is being done is by the NDC or NDC government by then. It is unfortunate that the NPP has been in power for the past eight years and they cannot point to one project they have done for the people of Ekumfi.”
“I think if the President is talking to the people of this country, I think he should say something comfortable. He shouldn’t say things like that. I was unhappy when I heard it,” he stated.
President Nana Akufo-Addo is out again with another egregious display of political pettiness and a blatant disregard for the well-being of the citizens of this beautiful country of ours.
It is highly concerning to openly and proudly admit that he denied the people of Ekumfi in the Central Region their much-needed development because they voted against his party’s candidate for parliament.
That is an undemocratic action and dangerous for our country’s progress.
This shocking display of partisanship, which has been one of the hallmarks of Mr Akufo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party, is not only an affront to democracy but also a glaring violation of the principles of good governance and sustainable development.
Sustainable development is a fundamental responsibility of any government. It must, therefore, be the government’s responsibility not to compromise on meeting the needs of the people today and affect future generations
The President’s actions is wrong on many levels. First, development should not be used as a political tool to punish or reward communities based on their voting patterns.
This action sets a dangerous precedent that other leaders may emulate, leading to a divided nation where development only occurs in regions loyal to the ruling party.
Secondly, it violates the fundamental human rights of the people of Ekumfi to be denied development based on their political affiliation.
As a people, we must be deeply concerned that President Akufo-Addo would prioritize political vendeLas over the well-being of his constituents.
Ghanaians will recall that he made similar claims in the wake of the government’s neglect of communities in the Volta Region affected by the very government’s spilling of the Akosombo dam.
As stated by Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, “Good governance is perhaps the single most important factor in eradicating poverty and promoting development.”
The President’s decision to withhold development from a community based on their political affiliations is unethical and sets a dangerous precedent for governance in Ghana.
This type of behaviour undermines the principles of democratic participation and fair representation. It also perpetuates a cycle of division and polarization within the country, hindering the progress and unity necessary for sustainable development.
Such actions will hold back Ghana’s total development and progress in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The SDGs call for inclusive and sustainable development that leaves no one behind. Denying development to any community undermines the country’s efforts towards achieving these goals
Goal 16, which focuses on peace, Justice, and strong institutions, emphasises the importance of inclusive and accountable governance at all levels. By denying development to a community based on their political choices, President Akufo-Addo is actively working against the spirit of this goal, jeopardising Ghana’s progress towards achieving the SDGs.
This alarming display of political bias and disregard for the principles of sustainable development makes it even more apparent that this country needs an urgent change in leadership.
Sustainable development requires inclusive governance that priorities the needs of all communities. Ghana, therefore, needs a leader who is committed to these principles, and John Mahama has shown that he is the right candidate for this country.
As a former President of Ghana, Mahama has a proven track record of prioritizing the needs of all Ghanaians, regardless of religious and political affiliations. During his tenure, he implemented policies and initiated projects across the country’s length and breadth to improve the lives of all.
This man is demonstrably commiLed to inclusive governance and sustainable development. It makes him a promising candidate to correct the poor governance of the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration and steer Ghana back on course towards progress and prosperity for all its citizens.
A former Minister of Defence under the erstwhile NDC Government, Mark Owen Woyongo, has died at age 78.
He was a former Member of Parliament for the Navrongo Central Constituency
Family sources, who confirmed his death to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra, said he had been unwell for some time.
He died in Accra in the late hours of Wednesday, January 17, 2023.
Political Positions He Held
Mr Woyongo was MP for Navrongo Central from 2012 to 2016 when he lost the seat to the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) late Joseph Kofi Ada.
Mr Woyongo first stood for election on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress in the 2008 parliamentary election, winning 41.7% of the votes and later lost to the late Mr Adda by 1,130 votes (3.5%).
He was, however, appointed the Upper East Regional Minister by late President John Evans Atta Mills in his government in 2009.
Mr. Woyongo was retained in that position by former President John Dramani Mahama following the death of President Mills.
In 2013, he was appointed as the Minister for Defence.
He announced his retirement from politics, disclosing in December 2016 that he will not contest any political position again.
Before his demise, Mr Woyongo ventured into commercial farming in the Upper East Region.
He invested in large maize and rice farms before he retired from active politics.
The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has released his outfit’s half-year report for the year 2023 in accordance with the laws governing the office, providing updates on a litany of cases it is either investigating or prosecuting.
Among the cases it gave an update on in the 20-page report dated December 29, 2023, included the Cecilia Dapaah scandal.
The Special Prosecutor is investigating Cecilia Dapaah, a former Sanitation and Water Resources Minister, and her spouse, Mr. Daniel Osei-Kufour, for suspected corruption and corruption-related offences regarding large amounts of money (mainly in foreign denominations) and other valuable items found in their apartment.
In its latest report, the Special Prosecutor said his investigations show that “the case is largely in the province of suspected money laundering and structuring.”
“By operation of law, there are other law enforcement agencies which are reposed with a direct mandate in respect of money laundering and structuring. On that score, the Special Prosecutor will issue directives and further action on the matter in due course,” the OSP added.
Background
The Office started its probe in July 2023 after news broke that domestic helpers of Cecilia Dapaah had stolen her millions of cash involving local and foreign currencies.
While the domestic helpers were undergoing investigation and prosecution, the OSP started probing Cecilia Dapaah and her husband, Mr. Daniel Osei-Kufour, in a bid to unravel the source of the money.
After searching their Abelenkpe residence, the OSP later froze a number of the former minister’s bank accounts.
“The investigation has been largely aimed at determining the source(s) of the large cash sums. The Office took several steps including freezing Ms. Dapaah’s bank accounts and investments and seizing large sums from the residence of Ms. Dapaah and her spouse. Upon the refusal by the High Court to confirm the freezing and seizure orders, the Office re-seized the cash sums and re-froze the bank accounts and investments and applied to the court again for confirmation in FT0074/2023 The Special Prosecutor v. Cecilia Abena Dapaah & Daniel Osei-Kufour.”
“From October 2023, the investigation became cross-border and transboundary upon the claim by the persons of interest that part of the seized cash sums was transported into the jurisdiction from the United States. For that reason, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States became involved in a collaborative investigative work with the OSP on the matter.”
In October 2023, the Special Prosecutor revoked the freezing order in respect of five (5) bank accounts of Ms. Dapaah, which were eliminated from the focus of the investigation as no longer suspected to be tainted property.
A member of the Communication team for the Movement for Change, Solomon Owusu has predicted that a shameful defeat for Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia at the end of the 2024 general elections.
He said despite being supported by state machinery during the NPP primaries to lead the governing party, he will lose the main polls because Ghanaians have decided to vote the NPP out due to their bad policies.
Joining the discussion on the Gumbe Show on TV XYZ on Tuesday night, Owusu, a former member of the NPP described Bawumia as a man who is bereft of ideas and has nothing to offer Ghanaians.
“Bawumia is not part of the 2024 contest, Alan will beat him because he cannot divert the verdict of Ghanaians. He will lose sorely because of his poor track record,” he told host Oheneba Boamah Bennie.
Dr Bawumia is NPP’s flag baerer
To him, the country’s economy was there for everyone to feel under Bawumia as the head of Government’s Economic Management Team.
He said the leader of the Movement for Change, Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, was credible than Dr Bawumia, adding that any member of the NPP who knows about the mismanagement and wanton corruption within the NPP under the leadership of Akufo-Addo and Bawumia will ditch them during the elections.
“In this 21st century when people are going to space and doing marvelous things that are benefiting their countries, Dr Bawumia could only talk about toilet facilities for Ghanaians. When he went to Agbogbloshi, all he could promise was toilet, toilet,” Owusu said mockingly.
He said after Bawumia’s defeat in 2024, he will have no option than to return to Canada to go in teach as he was doing before he was appointed to the Bank of Ghana.
The NDC National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia has said his party has a solution to the poorly-implemented Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme.
The former Minister argued that the NDC implemented a progressively free SHS policy which was backed by research to help the children of the less privileged parents enjoy education across the country. However, he said the NPP rather came to implement its flagship programme, the Free SHS, without proper consultation with stakeholders.
In an interview with Emmanuel Wilson Jnr on Politics and Beyond, the former General Secretary of the NDC observed that the quality of education in the second cycle institutions had dwindled, owing the fact that the Akufo-Addo government was only interested in fulfilling a campaign promise without knowing its nuances.
“We are all preaching free SHS and school feeding and all that but when it comes to the implementation, you see a vast difference. Facilities must be there but if they are not there how do you provide the free facility?”
To him, the infrastructure should have been provided before implementing the free SHS programme to avert the inconsistencies of the school calendar.
Free SHS Costly
Asiedu Nketia’s concerns come after a report by Education think tank, Africa Education Watch (EduWatch), last month that revealed that parents are spending more on their wards in Senior High Schools contrary to the impression created that, the policy has brought great relief to parents.
The Eduwatch report also indicated that, despite the implementation of the free SHS policy, lack of money to buy school items (prospectuses) and other costs have prevented some students from enrolling into various senior high schools.
According to findings on the financing of education titled “The Financial Burden of the Free SHS Policy and Implications for Equitable Access to Education”, 15 per cent of all students placed in Senior High Schools for 2022/2023, failed to honour their admissions due to financial difficulties.
Senior Programmes Officer of the Africa Education Watch, Divine Kpe, who presented the report before stakeholders, also revealed that parents and guardians of students under the free senior high school policy spend more on average than the government does per student.
The report said that while on average government spent GHS 1,147and GHS 1,107 on boarding and day students respectively for the 2021/2022 academic year, parents and guardians on the other hand spent on the average GHS 2,477 on prospectuses and GHS 4,000 on personal effects for boarding students.
It explained that parents of continuing day students reported spending an average of GH¢4,400 annually on their children’s education, including transportation, constituting 40 percent, breakfast of 50 percent, and 10 percent on books.
The report also revealed that parents of day students spent GHC5,507 inclusive of prospectus costs, which outweighed the government’s spending of GHS1,107.
To minimise the cost burden of the prospectus, the report recommended that, in the medium to long term, the Ministry of Education must develop and implement a strategy to focus on children from the poorest households using data from the LEAP programme.
The education think tank appealed to the Government, particularly the Ministry of Finance, to ensure prompt disbursement of funds to the Ghana Education Service and the schools to enable schools to meet the expenses of the schools in time.
The National Chairman for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia has reiterated the commitment of the flag bearer of the party, former president John Mahama, to revisiting the processes leading to reforms of Ghana’s constitution.
Speaking on Politics and Beyond on TV XYZ, Nketia who was a key member of the framers of the 1992 constitution, admitted that a constitutional review was imperative to effectively fight corruption and abuse of power by the executive.
He also mentioned that unlike the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) that likes to compromise state institutions, the NDC would take the bold step to review the constitution to help strengthen the country’s institutions and consolidate its democracy for the benefit of all Ghanaians.
Asiedu Nketiaargued that inasmuch as many people including the youth were calling for a review while some also called for the rewriting of the constitution again, he believes the constitution rather needs to be overhauled to tackle the loopholes that inhibit the growth of the country’s democracy.
“The NDC is aware of the calls from the youth for a constitutional review. Our flagbearer, H.E John Mahama is committed to revisiting the reform processes,” he told host Emmanuel Wilson Jnr.
To him, the NDC is committed to the reforms of the constitution to reflect the needs of Ghanaians after Ghana’s democracy had been stabilised since 1992.
He said it was the reason he led the charge to constatntly remind then President JEA Mills when the NDC won the 2008 polls to set up the Constitution Review Committee, chaired by Professor Albert Kodzo Fiadjoe to ascertain from the people of Ghana, their views on the 1992 Constitution.
Asiedu Nketia mentioned but for a law suit by the NPP in 2014 challenging the constitutionality of a white paper the NDC government had issued after carefully perusing the work of the Constitution Review Implementation Committee, the then government would have accepted the reviewed constitution.
The Commercial Transport Operators of Ghana has announced its decision to increase public transport fares by 30 percent, effective January 22, 2024.
The Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana, in a press release, stated that the increase is a result of a “substantial rise in the costs of lubricants and spare parts, coupled with increment on DVLA service charges.”
The group says the development is having a significant impact on the livelihoods of its members.
“The proposal for a fare increase aims to address the drivers’ financial challenges and ensure the sustainability of the public transportation industry in Ghana,” the commercial transport operators added in the press release.
Below is their statement;
The Commercial Transport Operators of Ghana wish to announce a 30% increment in transportation fares throughout the country on Monday January 22,2024.
This has become necessary due to the substantial rise in the costs of lubricants, spare parts coupled with increment on DVLA service charges , which has significantly impacted the livelihoods of drivers across Ghana.
We in the public transportation sector have been grappling with mounting expenses, making it increasingly challenging to sustain our operations.
The continuous surge in lubricant prices, driven by fluctuations in global oil markets, has resulted in a considerable burden on drivers who rely heavily on oil to keep our vehicles running efficiently.
Additionally, the escalating costs of spare parts, particularly for maintenance and repairs, have severely affected our ability to keep our vehicles in optimal condition.
This has resulted in reduced operational efficiency and increased downtime, negatively impacting both drivers and the commuting public.
Furthermore, our welfare has been significantly impacted by higher taxes imposed on the sector. This has put immense pressure on our earnings and made it increasingly difficult for us to cover our overheads and provide for the families.
Recognizing the adverse effects of these circumstances, the Transport Operators Association has engaged in extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders, including some state agencies and other transport associations.
The proposal for a fare increase aims to address the drivers’ financial challenges and ensure the sustainability of the public transportation industry in Ghana.
This fare adjustment is a necessary step to maintain the quality and efficiency of their services, benefiting both drivers and the commuting public in the long run.
It is crucial to strike a balance that considers the interests of the drivers while ensuring that transportation remains affordable and accessible for all.
We remains committed to delivering safe, reliable, and efficient transportation services to the Ghanaian public.
Together, with the support of all stakeholders, we can build a sustainable and thriving transportation sector that benefits both drivers and passengers alike.
We will also be advised or force to increase it again by 30 percent if the eco tax gets parliamentary approval.
Signed…
William Osei (Paa Willie)
chairman Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana
The National Democratic Congress has suspended its Northern regional Chairman over an assault on the Northern Regional Treasurer Hajia Shamima Yakubu.
Alhaji Gbewaa’s attack on his colleague party executive was reported in the media over the weekend when the issue had been referred to the party’s Functional Executive Committee for investigations and sanctions.
Speaking to Joy News Wednesday afternoon, Deputy General Secretary of NDC, Mustapha Gbande explained that Alhaji Gbewaa “has been suspended for three months.”
But Mr Gbande says the decision is “pending investigations and all other processes that will enable the party to look into the issues properly for a final redress.”
A statement by the party’s General Secretary, Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey, after the attack condemned the conduct of the party officer responsible for the assault, and mentioned that measures would be taken to address the matter thoroughly at the next meeting of its Functional Executive Committee meeting.
He also denied media reports claiming the incident happened in the presence of a national executive member of the party.
Meanwhile, some youth of the party say they disagree with the party leadership on how Alhaji Gbewaa is being handled.
The leader of the group at a press conference described the Northern Regional Treasurer Hajia Shamima Yakubu as a trouble maker who has had issues with almost every executive in the party’s regional office.
The Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD), scheduled to take place in Ghana on the Akuapim Hills from Thursday, 25 to Saturday 27 January 2024, will have as its overarching focus, the need to propose concrete measures which will lead to realizing the prosperity of the African continent.
The APD, organized in close collaboration with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat
situated in the capital city of Ghana, Accra, will also seek to emphasize the unique opportunity the AfCFTA offers the continent and her people, to break free from the widespread poverty, unemployment, and underdevelopment the continent is associated with.
These objectives together with several others, came to the fore when officials of the Africa Prosperity Network (APN), organizers of the Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD), and those of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, briefed the Press in Ghana, today, (15 January 2024) ahead of the 2024 Dialogues at the AfCFTA Conference Room, Africa Trade House.
Big push
Addressing members of the media at the briefing, Gabby Otchere-Darko, Founder and Executive Chairman of APN said the APD is an instrument that is to be used to push the implementation of the AfCFTA to achieve the unnegotiable need for Africa’s economic integration which will lead to the shared prosperity of the African continent.
“If the AfCFTA is going to work, there must be a big push within the first 10 years (first decade) of the agreement coming into force, that is between 2021 and 2031 because if we can’t get it right now, we will never get it right,” Mr Otchere-Darko said.
He observed that AfCFTA is the biggest project since the formation of the Organization of African Union (now African Union, AU) and the idea of a single market is about the economy and the drivers of the economy are the private sector.
To this end, he pointed out that it was important to find a way to let the private sector on the continent own AfCFTA and to drive it. For this to happen, Mr Otchere-Darko noted that it ought to be done in partnership with the political leadership on the continent, which is what the APD aims to achieve.
He further stressed the important role the media is expected to play for the private sector and political leaders’ partnership as envisaged by the APD to materialize. He urged the media to take a keen interest in the APD and use their various platforms to promote the agenda of the AfCFTA and the outcomes of the 2024 APD.
AfCFTA – APD partnership
Chief of Staff at the AfCFTA Secretariat, Silver Ojakol, speaking on behalf of the Secretary-General, Wamkele Mene, noted that the AfCFTA Secretariat considers the APD, a vital component, and source of generating policy implementation initiatives that will help drive the objectives of the AfCFTA area.
He described the AfCFTA as a highway through which countries on the African continent can connect effectively with each other to unravel the full potential of the continent. He indicated that AfCFTA is looking forward to the rich proposals that will be made at the APD 2024, which will be fully embraced by the Secretariat for implementation.
Transforming Africa’s fortunes
Dr Eugene Owusu, a member of the board of the Africa Prosperity Network (APN), in his remarks, identified four important areas that the African continent will have to focus on to transform its fortunes.
The first he said, is the quest to define a new positive narrative owned by the continent and its people. He explained that for far too long, Africans have been defined by what others see in them and not by what they see in themselves.
“As a people, sometimes we get too bogged down and are defined by the challenges that confront us. This is not right, and certainly, this is not progressive.
“Poverty and under-development cannot be our narrative. Although we may have a lot of poor people on this continent, Africa is not a poor continent,” Dr Eugene Owusu asserted.
“We are too rich to be poor! So, we must define our narrative – one that inspires hope and self-confidence and one that speaks to our human dignity,” Dr Eugene Owusu added.
Africa, according to Mr Owusu, must also be deliberate, and work with Pentecostal conviction to transform its development misfortunes, focus on the cardinal importance of deepening intra-African trade, scale up its production of goods and services, add value to what is produced, and frontally address the obstacles to deeper intra-African trade.
APD 2024 thematic areas
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Africa Prosperity Network, Njack Kane, shared the major thematic areas that will form the main subjects that will be discussed by the multiple panels participating in the 2024 dialogues.
The thematic areas he said, will be agriculture and food sovereignty, natural resources and value addition, infrastructure and Information Communication Technology (ICT), and finance and investments.
Motivation for APD 2024
Gayheart Mensah, a member of the Board of Directors of the APN, in his overview on why the APD 2024 is themed; “Delivering Prosperity in Africa: Produce, Add Value, Trade,” said Africa is a continent rich in natural resources and human capital and has large deposits of diamonds, iron, oil, natural gas, gold, uranium, copper and cobalt, about 30% of the world’s mineral reserves.
The continent he says also has 12% oil and 8% of natural gas reserves and an immense potential for hydroelectric power, solar energy, and geothermal energy. It has a vast amount of arable land, water, minerals, forests, and wildlife 2, over 1.4 billion people, making it the second most populous continent after Asia.
West, East, Central, and Southern Africa will reach a $29 trillion combined GDP by 2050 and the continent is expected to reach nearly 2.5 billion inhabitants by 2050.
Despite these vast resources in Africa, there is widespread poverty, unemployment, and under-development. Over 40% of the population live below the international poverty line, and yet the continent’s potential for growth and development is immense.
“There is much to be optimistic about. The irony of a continent deprived and poor amid richness and potential is what birthed the Africa Prosperity Network (APN) and its flagship programme, the Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD).
“Delivering Prosperity in Africa: Produce, Add Value, Trade will require investment in infrastructure, injection of capital into production, innovation, removal of trade barriers, and a pan-continental legal and regulatory regime that will enhance intra-African trade. Africa’s political leaders and the private sector have no choice but to sit and dialogue, if this aspiration is to become a reality,” Mr Mensah said.
“A lot more production and value-addition within the continent would generate jobs, create wealth, stimulate economic growth in Africa, and deliver prosperity dividends. It will improve the competitiveness of Africa in global trade, expand our markets, and increase in-flows. This is the reason why Africa must learn to work together, particularly our politicians and businessmen.
“We must collaborate across borders and sectors and create the environment that allows us to produce, add value, and trade among ourselves. We must invest in our people and our infrastructure for sustainable economic growth and development. Above all, we must embrace dialogue, innovation, and creativity to unlock the full potential of the African economy and create prosperity for the people of Africa,” Gayheart Mensah added.
Source: Asaaseradio.com
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