12:20p.m.
Dr Bawumia rounds up presentation at Joy News’ 100 days Town Hall programme:
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has rounded up his presentation at the Joy News’ 100 days Town Hall programme Monday announcing government has recorded over 103 achievements.
He listed the cancellation of 20 Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) entered into by the past government, restoration of the teachers and nursing trainee allowances, giving clearance for the employment of 11,000 nurses who have been home after completing school and the stabilisation of the cedi.
“When we came in the cedi was running but essentially we have arrested it and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Apeatu has the keys. He has locked it up,” he said of the country’s currency.
12:00p.m.
Government to implement Multilateral Integrated Mining policy:
Dr Bawumia: Under the Multilateral Integrated Mining policy, we are going to have a sustainable way of dealing with galamsey in the country. While stopping illegal mining, we are also going to direct the youth to areas that will benefit them. We need to grow this economy and by doing that there will be alternative livelihood.
11:27
Worker rights
Dr Bawumia: The cases of abuse of workers in Ghana as happened in Marwako Fast Food assault will all be handled by the law. The law will have to take its course. I think we should address the issues of assault of employees and we will definitely be looking at it.
11:27
Controversial Veep residence:
Dr Bawumia: $14 million for a residence on a land that is free is ridiculous. It is not like a big plot of land, so I thought it was quite unusual especially after seeing the plan of the structure.
11:27
Miscreants will not be spared:
Dr Bawumia: If you break the law you will not see ministers lining up to sign a petition, as happened in the previous NDC government. If you say you belong to the NPP and misbehave the law is going to get to you.
“The point should be overall you have to obey the law.”
11:14
On 15 percent increase in transport fares:
Dr Bawumia: Ghana Private Road and Transport Union (GPRTU) sets fares without the involvement of government but as they feel the changes in the economy, they will also reform their prices.
11:08
In the area of Defense:
Dr Bawumia: All allowances due to military personnel on peacekeeping missions amounting to $39 million have been paid. “We promised that we will increase the peacekeeping allowance from $31 to $35 and it has been done.”
“The NDC also made similar promise but the only difference is that they never paid but we have paid.”
11:08
Freeze on purchase of vehicles and selling of vehicles to outgoing government officials:
Dr Bawumia: Government has established a policy not to buy cars and sell cars to departing government officials.
11:06
Government machinery:
Dr Bawumia: President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is on record as the first President to assemble his team less than two months into office.
“All ministers have declared their assets and we have established a functional delivery unit and a functional economic team and we meet every week.”
11:02
Free SHS is going begin in September:
Dr Bawumia: The free senior high school is beginning in September and the first, second and third years will all benefit when the project is fully implemented.
“This is the most prudent way to start,” he said.
Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid with his deputy Kwadwo Oppong-Nkrumah
11:00 am
We have save Ghana $300 million:
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has said government has saved the country more than $300 million through the cancellation of about 20 power purchasing agreements entered into by the previous NDC government.
“We have asked four of them to delay their operation and this has helped to manage government’s expenditure,” he said.
10:59 am
Energy Sector:
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia says they have informed independent power producers in the country that they cannot charge Ghanaians more than 10 cent per kilowatt hour. “They are charging us 17 cent and in other countries they are 10 cent.”
“We have established a policy to increase the operation of the Volta River Authority (VRA),” he said.
10:49
Opening up Aviation sector:
Air France have recommence work in Ghana after decades of shutting down its operations in the country.
He said Citylink, Virgin Atlantic all left because of worsening economic situation in the country.
10:41
We have arrested the cedi from running
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia says government policies aimed at stabilising the cedi have brought some relief to investors and business owners. “We have arrested the cedi from running.”
10:25
We didn’t make any promises for 100 days – Bawumia
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia says although they are poised to fulfil all their promises, the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) did not pledge to fulfil them within 100 days in government.
He says they have been able to record 103 remarkable achievement since taking over from the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.
Government has upped the country’s foreign reserve from less than $6 billion to $8 billion, he said. “This is the achievement and with that you have a lot more confidence in the economy and you see stability return to the currency.”
10:00
Joy News’ 100 days Town Hall with Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to assess the performance of the Akufo-Addo presidency so far is underway.
He has arrived and the National Anthem is being played.
