Highlights of President Mahama’s Address

President John Mahama on Tuesday delivered his second State of the Nation Address spelling out measures being adopted by his government to resolve the bottlenecks in the education, health and economy sectors.

These sectors have come under criticisms in recent times.

The address was originally slated for Thursday, February 20, 2014, but was rescheduled to Tuesday, February 25 due to “unforeseen circumstances”.

The following are some of the Highlights:

HEALTH –
Government releases GH¢50 million to local pharmaceutical companies to produce Anti-Retroviral Drugs (ARVs) locally.

EDUCATION –
Government prepares to implement free secondary education programme by 2015/2016.

– Waiting for the road map to introduce a continuous free secondary education which would reduce the burden on parents as spelt out by the 1992 Constitution.

– Government to rationalize senior high school fees

– Government advises parents to report heads of high school institutions who charge more than the approved fees.

ECONOMY –

– Economic fundamental remains bright with seven percent growth rate

– Ghana remains ripe for investment

– Economic challenges to be resolved in weeks

– Ghana needs all hand to resolve challenges.

ENERGY-

– Government is finalizing a joint venture agreement between Petro Saudi and the Tema Oil -Refinery.

-Transaction adviser has also been selected to choose a strategic partner for the Tema Shipyard and Drydock.

WATER-

– Projected water demand for Accra alone has been pegged at 150 million barrels per day..

– Government is executing four major water projects to add an additional 65.3 million barrels of water.

– Four projects including the sites at the Kpong Water Supply Expansion Project would end the water starvation in parts of the capital city such as Adenta, Haatso, East Legon, Madina, Agbogba, Abokobi.

INFRASTRUCTURE –

– Government needs GHc 4 billion to fix infrastructure