ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Under its Ghana Political Parties Programme, the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA)

contributed to the cost of printing this Manifesto. We wish to thank the IEA for this gesture of support.

FOREWORD BY THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

I am excited to write the foreword to "MOVING GHANA FORWARD - BUILDING A MODERN GHANA,” our manifesto for the 2008 elections.

This is a historic moment for our Party. We have had two successful terms and stand poised to win another. The values of our Party are becoming day-by-day, the values of our country. We are committed to building an open society where respect for human rights, the rule of law, free markets and faith in our country are its bedrocks.

These were the values, whose entrenchment in our body politic, were defined as the goals of Ghanaian nationalism on that fateful Saturday of 4th August 1947, when the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) of blessed memory, was launched at Saltpond in the Central Region to spearhead the agitation for national independence and freedom. Unfortunately, however, Africa and Ghana's political classes subsequently became infatuated with the ideology of centralised control of society and one –party and one-person dictatorships. As a result, many of our leaders were persecuted. Many were imprisoned and some, including the founding father of our

tradition, the man whose scholarship gave our country its name Ghana, Joseph Boakye Danquah and his great ally, Emmanuel Obetsebi -Lamptey, died in political detention without trial, much to the shame of our nation. Despite the persecution, those in our tradition never doubted that their values would triumph in the end. Before the Berlin Wall came down after nearly half-a-century of a cold and bitter global struggle, we were on the right side of history.

Our first government, led by Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, showed briefly how great our nation could be by beginning the building of a “property-owning democracy”. In 2001, after thirty years in the political wilderness, we returned to government under the outstanding leadership of John Agyekum Kufuor as President of the Republic and went to work immediately. Within the first 8 years, our government has achieved a monumental record on the economy, in education, in healthcare, in infrastructural development and in consolidating our democracy. Never in the history of independent Ghana has freedom so flourished as in this, the first phase of NPP rule. In 2001, the size of our GDP was $3.9 billion. Today it is $16.3 billion. We have reduced inflation,

interest rates and public debt. We have also increased the availability of capital, both from our banks and through foreign direct investments. On the basis of these successes, Ghana is increasingly cited as one of the best places to do business in the emerging world and the best on our continent.

As a result of our economic performance, we have been able to make investments in critical areas to a level so far unseen in our history.

In education, we increased the percentage of our budget committed to the sector by over 50%.

With the additional resources, we introduced the School Feeding Programme and the Capitation Grant, which have combined to increase primary school enrolment by 30%. Furthermore, we have increased the salaries of teachers more than five-fold and introduced distance learning to enable our teachers acquire more skills and knowledge while remaining in the classrooms. At the tertiary level, we have made massive investments in long neglected infrastructure that have led to more than a doubling of the enrolment in public universities, from 40,000 to 88,000 students. In healthcare, despite the objections of the NDC opposition who walked out on the parliamentary proceedings, we passed legislation on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and to date, over 11million Ghanaians have registered under the Scheme that has been hailed as one of the most humane and pro-poor in the world.

In addition to these achievements, we have made significant investments in infrastructure, particularly in roads, water and electrification. For example, the current NPP government inherited about 39,000 kilometres of accessible roads and will leave office with nearly 65,000 kilometres. Large areas of our country have now access to potable water which has eluded them for a long time. Between 1994 and the year 2000 a total of 3,804 new boreholes were dug.

Between 2001 and 2007, under the NPP, 8,191 were dug. With the construction of the Bui Dam, the plans for which have been on the drawing table for nine decades, we have taken a decisive step towards ensuring energy sufficiency for our expanding economy.

While we lay no claims to perfection, there is no denying the fact that the NPP has administered this nation very ably. Nevertheless, we recognise that there are considerable challenges yet to be overcome.

It is a fact that too many of our people, including graduates, lack employment that pay a living wage and we shall work with the private sector to create jobs for them now that the macroeconomic fundamentals of our economy are in good shape. Our economy is set to create good jobs for good pay. The North still lags too far behind the South and we must act with determination to close that gap. The gap between rural and urban Ghana shall be bridged by ensuring that our modernisation programme covers the entire country. We shall modernise our society by planning our cities better and ensuring compliance with rules and regulations, and by creating first class public services.

We shall pursue in a focused manner the structural transformation of our national economy by moving away from its dependence on the production and export of raw materials. The industrialisation of our economy will be the over-arching objective of our policy in order to provide employment and enhance rapidly the living standards of the mass of our people. The process of industrialisation will necessarily be accompanied by the modernisation of our agriculture to guarantee food security for our people and raw materials for our industries. We pledge to create a value-adding economy that will process most of our primary products, create new industries, embrace the new technologies and make Ghana the hub of manufacturing, financial, and other services for our region of West Africa and beyond.

We shall improve the NHIS by streamlining its processes, training more health personnel, building more health facilities and extending its coverage to young people independent of their parents. In addition we shall strengthen care for pregnant women free of charge, as President Kufuor pledged and the NHIS has started to do. We shall do so not to encourage irresponsible sexual conduct, but to reduce our high maternal mortality rate and to have healthy children who will grow into productive citizens of our country.

We shall enhance the quality of our democratic governance by deepening the process of decentralisation and thereby bringing government closer to the people. We shall create additional districts and put a mechanism in place to examine the creation of more regions.

We shall continue our engagement in West Africa and the rest of the continent to promote peace, stability and democratic accountability, to increase collaboration on the resolution of common problems, to ensure the free movement of people, ideas, goods and services across our borders and to strengthen the place of our region and continent in the world. The NPP believes that a more productive Ghana, with industries and services, can sell goods and services to the quarter of a billion people who live in West Africa and thus create lots of employment here at home.

While all these are important, the key that will make these developments feasible and sustainable is a vibrant educational system. At the primary level, the next NPP government will build and rehabilitate 5,000 school buildings across the country. Furthermore, we pledge to extend free education to the Senior High School level at an initial extra cost of some GH¢125 million. Also, we shall provide public Universities for all the regions that have none and expand the Universities that exist. Each new University will be built with an estimated seed money of GH¢25 million. All across our educational system, the student-teacher ratio is too high. We need to reduce class sizes. We shall commit the necessary resources to train more teachers and build more educational infrastructure. We shall continue to increase the salaries of teachers, provide accommodation for them in rural areas together with appropriate allowances and engage our diasporan professors and academics to teach here through the use of technology, even while they live abroad. In addition to these, we shall make our Universities business incubation centres by building, in partnership with the private sector and the Universities, technology parks to facilitate the integration of technology into all spheres of our national life. Aside from our youth, we shall ensure that, through tax credits, working people can upgrade their skills throughout their working

lives. This educational system, coupled with the investments outlined, will create by the end of the four-year term, several hundred thousand jobs annually in construction, agriculture and agrobusinesses, industry, tourism and energy.

Our nation stands on the brink of unprecedented prosperity with the oil revenues that will begin to flow into our national treasury in the next 18 months. The strategic repositioning of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) to concentrate on its core activities, which our government initiated when we came to power, has paid off with the discovery of large quantities of high-grade crude oil. Not only will we ensure that these revenues are managed in a judicious and transparent manner for the development of our nation, but we will also ensure that the major players and beneficiaries of this new industry are Ghanaians.

I intend to be an active, transformational President, who will lead by example and hold my team accountable. The fight against corruption will be waged with vigour and determination. To ensure efficiency and effectiveness, I shall support existing institutions and build new ones that will lead our transformation and institutional change for years to come.

I believe in Ghana"s destiny and potential. It is not by accident that God chose us to lead the struggle for the liberation of our continent from imperialism and colonialism. My unshakable conviction is that God means for Ghana to show the world a successful first-world black nation.

Based on our record, the NPP is poised to make Ghana the first successful “African Lion”, fit to rival any of the “Asian Tigers”. The NPP has, thus, a responsibility to see to it that the underachievers and non-performers of previous eras are not given a chance to compromise our future again and erode the progress that, together with Ghanaians and God’s guidance, we have made in the first 8 years of NPP rule. With our faith firm in God, we shall not fail the Ghanaian people.

We need to move forward. We ask for the support of Ghanaians so that we can continue moving the nation forward. Let us move forward and build a modern Ghana. Let us continue to believe in Ghana.

􀀼􀀀rek􀀀 y􀀀n anim! W􀀀n ya w􀀀 hie! Zaamu gaba! Me yena n􀆾o! Ti chanla – tooni!

May God bless us all! God bless Ghana!

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, MP

8th August 2008.

INTRODUCTION BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PARTY

Ghanaians face a stark choice as we go to the polls on 7th December 2008. Shall we progress on the path of good governance, peace, freedom and positive development or shall we retreat to the dark days?

As we face this epochal time in our national development, I feel honoured to be the National Chairman and I re-echo the voice of Danquah, Busia, Dombo and all the faithful departed – Ghana Must Succeed. And to succeed, the NPP pathway must be pursued and deepened further.

Against the backdrop of human rights abuses, media oppression, economic mismanagement and national decadence under the 19-year rule of the NDC, within the first 8 years of NPP we have firmly re-established the rule of law, embarked on radical education and health reforms, electricity, water, roads and communication services as unprecedented in the annals of Ghanaian history.

The Capitation Grant, School Feeding Programme, National Health Insurance Scheme and allied measures will remain cornerstone monuments in our national development. The Bui Dam is a reality. We have discovered oil. The economy is booming as it has never done in several decades. So far so very good. We promised Positive Change and we have delivered.

We have lived to the expectations of J.B. Danquah of blessed memory who wrote “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 Government and laws of the land should be dedicated in order specifically to enrich life, property and liberty of each and every citizen”.

Indeed, we are not resting on our oars. We are moving forward. This Manifesto captures the superstructures we shall build on the solid foundation laid in the first 8 years of NPP government.

Our Manifesto unveils plans to provide a Presidency that will restructure and deepen the promotional role of the Presidency. In promoting good governance, we shall reinforce Parliament, the Judiciary and strengthen the institutions and systems that will help in dealing with corruption and promoting institutional accountability.

While deepening decentralisation and maximising its benefits, this Manifesto shows a clear vision for strengthening our military, police, security agencies and dealing with narcotics and other social problems.

The reader is exposed to concrete measures to further transform and strengthen the economy, agriculture, industry, health, education, infrastructure, housing, science and technology and providing opportunities for the youth while caring for the physically challenged, women and children.

Ghana’s role in international affairs is also vividly captured.

The NPP presents the best programme for Ghana’s future. Our candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is undoubtedly the best person for the job.

We have had Positive Change. The future is about transformation. We are moving forward to the next phase of our Party’s development agenda. Strongly believing in the capabilities of our dear country, we are putting everything into its progress. We are committed to building a New Ghana because we do sincerely believe in Ghana. We urge you to stay with the NPP and, together, we move Ghana forward.

Long Live the New Patriotic Party!

Long Live Ghana!

Peter Mac Manu

10th August 2008

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 THE NPP’S RECORD: A PROMISE DELIVERED

INTRODUCTION

This chapter provides a snapshot of the strong performance of the NPP Government in the major areas of national life since it was voted into power in 2000 and re-elected in 2004. The record of achievements has been tremendous over the range of expectations – from peace and freedoms enjoyed by the citizenry as a result of good governance, the prudent management of the national economy leading to the discovery of oil and the far reaching social interventions in education and health in the frontline of efforts to modernise our society.

1.1 THE PRESIDENCY

The NPP through President Kufuor has brought back the dignity of the Presidency and endowed Ghana with the following:

􀁸 an internationally recognised good-governance regime which has enlarged the freedoms of the individual citizen, institutions and the press through the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law

􀁸 an atmosphere of peace and stability which is the envy of the rest of Africa

􀁸 an enlarged mechanisms of representative government through the institution of the

people’s assembly concept where our President meets the people and takes questions and

queries from the public. Our Ministers have engaged in “Meet the Press” series

􀁸 tackled corruption not by sheer rhetoric but by actual policy measures including the

Procurement Act, Whistleblower Act and other legal measures on public accounting. The

Right to Information Act is in the offing

􀁸 a solid socio-economic foundation upon which a more prosperous, peaceful and just

Ghana can be built.

We shall not move backward. We are moving forward. This is our pledge. This is our mission.

1.2 GOOD GOVERNANCE

Our government has displayed an excellent record of good governance. The separation of powers and the independence of the Judiciary and Legislature have been respected. The Media have never experienced such freedom. The Rule of Law prevails and fundamental human rights are respected. Corruption is being tackled through institutional reforms. Public administration has seen a qualitative difference. Good governance has earned Ghana US$547 million from the US government through the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA).

1.3 PUBLIC SECTOR REFORMS

The NPP Government has initiated a review of Human Resources and Performance Measurement Practices in the Public Sector with a view to establishing a professional human resource cadre of the public services. A Comprehensive Salary Structure for the entire Public Sector has been developed and approved for implementation. Distortions in the existing public sector pay structure have been removed. A Senior Civil Service Class has been established. 410 out of 599 top civil servants have been trained at GIMPA as part of the accelerated training programme for the leadership of the Civil Service.

2

1.4 LAW AND ORDER

Major reforms of the legal system have been undertaken. These include:

􀁸 reducing significantly the delays in trials by automating the courts (Fast Track Courts)

􀁸 using law as a tool for development by supporting the creation of commercial courts and the Business Law Division of the Attorney General’s Department

􀁸 using law as a tool for the promotion and protection of fundamental human rights and

freedoms. For example, the right of freedom and expression by repealing the Criminal

Libel Law

􀁸 the Judiciary, Military, Police and all law enforcement agencies have received the highest ever budgetary support to fulfil their mandate. Recruitment and service conditions have received quantitative and qualitative boost.

The NPP was quick to recognise the potential of the military as a useful partner in the economic reconstruction of the country in addition to its traditional role of defending the territorial integrity of the country. This partnership has produced splendid results. As an institution the military has discharged its constitutional responsibilities in a way that has won the admiration of Ghanaians.

Bold efforts have been made to improve the remuneration packages of the Ghana Armed forces.

The 37 Military Hospital has been expanded and considerably refurbished. Today it provides about the finest medical services to both the military and civilians alike. A second Military Hospital is planned for Kumasi and Parliament is due to approve a loan for the construction of the hospital before the end of 2008. The construction of the Burma Hall, the Ministry of Defence Building and the provision of a number of new residential buildings in all garrisons and the rehabilitation of old and dilapidated residential buildings have all gone a long way to boost the morale of soldiers.

An amount of US$60 million has been provided to ensure that all Peacekeeping Missions are provided with sufficient equipment. An additional facility of US$100 million has been provided to equip the army. There are on-going discussions to obtain parliamentary approvals for two different facilities to equip the Air Force and the Navy before the end of the present NPP Government.

1.5 DECENTRALISATION

The process of decentralisation has been deepened. Sixty (60) more Districts have been created to accelerate the process whilst bigger budgetary support, including Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) allocations for the Districts, has broadened the developmental capacity of the Assemblies. The District Assemblies Common Fund has been increased from 5.0 to 7.5% of total national revenue. A District Development Fund has also been established with a seed fund of US$25 million. Legal backing has been given to the Institute of Local Government Studies as the key capacity building institution, responsible for generating the requisite personnel to man local government.

1.6 ECONOMY

The NPP has established itself as the safest pair of hands to manage the economy. Our track record of achievements testifies to the highly responsible and prudent management of the economy.

Upon assuming office in 2001, we inherited a struggling economy with all the fundamental macroeconomic indicators pointed in the wrong direction – GDP growth rate hovered at an abysmal low of 3.7%. Inflation stood at 41% and was on the rise. On the interest rate front, the Bank of Ghana Base rate was over 50% with the 91-Day Treasury Bill Rate at 40.5%. Total Debt as a ratio of Gross Domestic Product stood at 189%. International Reserves stood at US$ 253 million, adequate for three weeks of import cover. Total debt service (as a percentage of exports of goods, services and income) was 15.6%. The daily minimum wage, as a cost of living indicator, stood at Gp 29 (¢2,900). All these indicators paint a picture of an economy that had not been managed well.

The first critical task the new NPP administration faced was to restore the macroeconomic balance of the economy, while spurring growth. Under the able stewardship of the NPP inflation has been brought down to 18% today, in spite of the serious exogenous shocks arising from the steep increases in global oil and food prices. In the tamed inflationary environment Ghanaians can confidently plan their savings and investment activities in the knowledge that the value of the money they save and invest is now stable.

The classic benchmarks of success in our stabilisation programme are clear for all to see – a restored macroeconomic balance, low and declining rates of inflation, lower interest rates and a stable currency that has held its own for six straight years.

On the interest rate front, the Bank of Ghana Base rate now stands at a mere 17% while the 91-Day Treasury Bill rate has declined to 24%. This has made it possible to expand total credit to the private sector from 12.5% of GDP in 2000 to 28.4% of GDP in 2007. With the cost of borrowing reduced significantly, the private sector is now in a better position to access credit to expand their businesses. We have been able to improve our external reserve position as at December 2001, from US$ 253 million (equivalent of three weeks import cover) to US$ 2.3 billion (equivalent of three months cover) as at year end 2007.

Through the bold HIPC arrangements, which resulted in an external forgiveness of some US$ 5 billion and the restructuring of the maturity profile of our external debt, Ghana’s total debt service declined from 15.6% in 2000 to 4.9% by year end 2006. The greatly reduced debt burden on the economy has released significant amounts of scarce foreign exchange resources, which would otherwise have been used to service these debts, for construction of roads, hospitals, schools and meeting other social needs of our people.

The ultimate proof of our superior management of the Ghanaian economy has been our ability to grow the economy, in nominal GDP terms, from US$ 3.9 billion in 2000 to US$ 16.3 billion in 2008. In this process, per capita income is now nearly US$ 600 as compared to a little over US$ 300 in 2000. As a result, poverty levels have been cut by over a third – from 39% of the population in1998/1999 to 28% by 2006/2007.

These spectacular successes have engendered growing international confidence in the Ghanaian economy and have made possible the significant inflows of foreign direct investment, particularly in the banking, energy, and oil and gas exploration fields.

A better deal for pensioners

Today a pensioner receives a minimum monthly allowance over twenty times more than that provided by the NDC – from GH¢ 1.00 (¢10,000) in the year 2000 to GH¢ 22.00 (¢220,000) equivalent in 2008.

In Rawlings’ last term in office, pensioners faced poverty and deprivation. Whilst prices of basic foods and other necessities were rising rapidly, the minimum pension was kept the same Gp85 (¢8,500) between 1997 and 1999.

In comparison, in its first two years in office alone, the NPP raised the pension from GH¢ 1.00 (¢10,000) to GH¢ 5.00 (¢50,000). By the end of Kufuor’s first term in 2004, it stood at GH¢ 10.00 (¢100,000) and today it stands at GH¢ 22.00 (¢220,000), helping reduce pensioner poverty.

A better deal for the unemployed and workers

Under the National Youth Employment Programme, the NPP has created 108,000 new jobs for otherwise unemployed young people, giving them the opportunity to support themselves and get a start in the job market.

The NPP has succeeded in achieving a four-fold increase in the daily minimum wage – up from just Gp 31 (¢3,100) in 2000 to GH¢2.25 (¢22,500) in 2008. In the year 2000, the daily minimum wage was worth just US$0.60, whilst after 7 years of the NPP government it now stands at more than US$2 today. Some construction and other workers earn up to five times the minimum wage.

1.7 AGRICULTURE

Strong Performance Overall

The NPP government, since assuming office in 2001, has worked hard to bring about massive and real growth in the agricultural sector. The sector’s growth rate increased from 2.1% in the year 2000, to 4.4% in the year 2002 and to 6.5% by 2006. Major increases in food production in particular have helped Ghana achieve self-sufficiency in most of the staple food crops including yam, maize, plantain and cassava. As a result, the current world food crisis afflicting many countries in Africa and elsewhere has not greatly affected Ghanaians.

Booming Cocoa Production

We have achieved growth in food and agriculture by raising productivity on our farms. We more than doubled production of cocoa from an average of less than 350,000 metric tonnes in the NDC era to a peak of over 750,000 metric tonnes in 2006/2007 for the same land area under cultivation.

Through the mass spraying initiated by our government and the application of subsidised

fertilisers, we have been able to double the average yield per acre of cocoa. This, together with the four-fold increase in producer prices, has boosted cocoa farmers’ income to a level not seen since the 1950s. The price paid to farmers for a 64 kg. bag of cocoa at end of 2000 season was GH¢21.7 (¢217,000). The price for the 2008 season is GH¢102 (¢1,020,000). The NDC government was only able to pay bonuses in 1992 and 1996. The NPP government has paid six bonuses in the last seven years. It is now the policy to pay cocoa bonuses twice every year.

Direct Intervention for Food Crops

To improve crop yields we have reduced the prices paid by small farmers for fertilisers. For example, we have reduced by half the price of fertiliser NPK (15:15:15) which is commonly used by poor food crop farmers from GH¢52 to only GH¢26 per bag. This has encouraged farmers to apply more fertiliser to increase production and improve farm incomes. A policy of direct intervention has been adopted to supply farm inputs on credit to small farmers. Over 100,000 small farmers are supported annually with cash and inputs to grow maize, sorghum or rice. We intend to expand this programme rapidly throughout the country in the coming years.

Irrigating our Farm Lands

The NPP government is steadily rehabilitating all the large irrigation dams in the country to provide more water to make possible the planting of two crops per year in many farming communities particularly in the North. Nine seriously deteriorated irrigation facilities at Weija, Aveyime, Afife, Sata, Mankessim, Tanoso, Akumadan, Subinja and Bontanga have been rehabilitated. Total cropped area for the 9 schemes has increased from 922 hectares to 2,326 hectares. Contracts totalling GH¢7.8 million for the rehabilitation of the Tono Irrigation Project were awarded in 2007 and work is expected to be completed in December this year. This rehabilitation will add 600 hectares of irrigable land to the existing 1,800 hectares. In addition to rehabilitating old schemes, the government has also developed 80 new small dams and dugouts mainly in northern Ghana and 22 pumping schemes along major rivers capable of irrigating 3,200 hectares. 530 hectares of valley bottom sites have been developed for the production of 5,670 tonnes of paddy rice. Government has imported 23 drilling rigs to support groundwater abstraction for irrigation in 7 regions. Eight hundred (800) portable pumping machines have been provided to farmer groups and to individual farmers in the three northern regions to facilitate irrigation farming in the dry season. A feasibility study for the Accra Plains Irrigation Project is ongoing and the feasibility study for the Kaanbaa Irrigation Project located in Lawra in the Upper West Region is being revised.

Processing and Storing our Produce

To cater for the post-harvest handling of produce, processing facilities have been installed to process more cocoa, fruits and tomato. A number of warehouses have been rehabilitated for the storage of grains during the harvesting periods and thousands of tonnes of maize have been stored as strategic stocks in Ejura, Wenchi and Sunyani.

Mechanising our Farms

The NPP Government has increased the mechanisation of agriculture in a manner unmatched in the history of Ghana. Since 2004, we have imported into the country 1,331 brand new tractors with implements, 400 multi-purpose threshers, 30 mechanical and solar dryers, 20 oil palm and sheabutter processing machines and 30 fruit and vegetable processing machines for farmers across the country. For small farmers, 1,600 pieces of vari-mini lower capacity tractors and 326 power tillers have been imported from the Czech Republic and are currently being distributed throughout the country. The delivery of another batch of 721 pieces of tractors is in progress and is expected to be completed by October 2008. For farmers who cannot afford to own agricultural machines, the Government has, as an initial step, established nine Mechanisation Service Centres across the country to improve farmers’ access to mechanisation services. Poverty, which was more pronounced in the agricultural sector, has been cut by half – bringing it down from 51.7 percent of the farm population in 1999 to 28.5 percent in 2005.

Fisheries

For the first time in the history of this country, a separate Ministry of Fisheries has been created to improve this important source of protein. The Government is improving infrastructure, enhancing investment and providing support to small-scale fishermen. Aquaculture is being encouraged through the construction of 2 fishing harbours and 12 fish landing sites along the entire coastline at a cost of US$148 million. The locations are spread all along the coastline starting from Keta in the east to Axim in the west. These also include landing sites at Ada, Teshie, Winneba, Senya Beraku, Gyamani and Dixcove.

Developing Rural North

The NPP Government has initiated the Northern Rural Growth Programme (NRGP) with a budget of US$103 million. It will cover 32 out of 34 districts of the three northern regions of Ghana with the aim of improving the living standards of rural residents.

1.8 INDUSTRY

Since assuming office in 2001, the NPP administration has:

􀁸 instituted a supportive industrial policy which has put in place a national private sector

development strategy, a new trade policy, the review of the Companies Code, and created

a regulatory framework to ensure the efficient implementation of these policies

􀁸 cut corporate tax from 35% to 25% to encourage and support businesses and entrepreneurship

􀁸 improved our business environment by establishing commercial courts, introducing faster business registration and greater accountability in the government’s financial dealings

􀁸 supported the export sector with more aggressive export promotion activities. For

example, since 2002, the Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF) has invested

nearly ¢700 billion in export promotion with 28% going into agro-processing

􀁸 opened markets for Ghanaian producers through African Growth and Opportunity Act

(AGOA), collaborated with our ECOWAS partners and organised trade fairs

􀁸 obtained from the American government, through the Millennium Challenge Account,

US$547 million to be spent over the next five years to modernise various sectors of our

economy, particularly agriculture.

These have all been done in the government’s pursuit of making the private sector the major force behind the growth of our economy. As a result of these reforms, the country has been adjudged as one of the top ten countries with the most reformed economy in the world to do business in.

Ghana is now recognised as a fully fledged “emerging economy” with the concomitant record inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI).

Integrated Aluminium Industry

In order to accelerate the pace of industrialisation and economic development the Government has acquired full shares in the Volta Aluminium Company Limited (Valco) with a view to developing an integrated aluminium industry in Ghana using both the Kyebi and Nyinahin bauxite deposits.

1.9 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT)

We have secured funding of US$30 million and commenced work on the national fibre optic backbone to promote ICT activities throughout the country. We have also secured US$40 million from the World Bank and started the national e-governance programme.

The government is facilitating private sector delivery of the developments in the Information and Communication Technology services. Some of the current initiatives are the ICT centres and Ghana Multimedia Incubator Centre. ICT centres provide Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with access to ICT services. They are to be established in 230 communities across the country.

Phase I, which consists of 62 communities, is nearly completed. Five of these centres have been commissioned in the North at Wa, Lawra, Tumu, Bolgatanga and Bawku. The Ghana- India Kofi Annan Centre for Excellence in IT, a model institution in Africa, was established in 2002.

The new NPP government adopted urgent policy measures which have led to an explosion in the number of mobile phone users. When the NPP government took over in 2001 there were just 215,000 mobile phone users, less than 250,000 fixed telephone lines and only 10,824 public pay phones. Internet subscriptions were negligible. Currently there are over 7 million (7,048,510) users across all ten regions. The number of pay phones has trebled and that of fixed lines had increased to over 365,000 as at September 2007. Internet subscriptions have now reached approximately 1.5million.

1.10 TOURISM

The NPP has made Ghana the tourist destination of West Africa, attracting record numbers to the Ghana @ 50 celebrations and the African Cup of Nations football tournament this year 2008.

Between 2005 (when reliable data became available) and 2007:

􀁸 tourist arrivals increased from 429,000 to 587,000

􀁸 tourism receipts increased from US$836 - 1million to US$1,172million

􀁸 contribution of tourism to national income increased from 4.9 percent to 6.3 percent

􀁸 accommodation establishments increased from 1,345 to over 1,460

􀁸 number of hotel rooms rose from 18,800 to over 20,900

􀁸 number of hotel beds increased from 23,900 to some 26,200

􀁸 tourism employment also increased from 172,800 to 206,100 .

1.11 EDUCATION

We want every Ghanaian child to be able to go to school and get a good quality education. Since 2001, the NPP government has achieved massive improvements and expansion in quality and affordable education.

􀁸 We have reformed the structure and content of basic education to include 2 years of

kindergarten, 6 years of primary school and 3 years of Junior High School. A new curriculum has been introduced to improve quality and impart skills relevant to the job

market.

􀁸 The NPP government has constructed 765 new school blocks at basic level throughout the country, in addition to 150 3-unit classroom blocks and 231 6-unit classroom blocks to replace schools under trees. Overall, the number of schools (public and private) increased by a third at the basic level in the period 2000/01 to 2007/08.

􀁸 We have introduced the School Feeding Programme, Capitation Grant and free Metro Bus ride for children in basic school in order to make education affordable and accessible to all Ghanaians. Nearly half a million children now benefit from the School Feeding

Programme which will be extended to all children in the next 2 years.

􀁸 Enrolment in public basic school now stands at almost 5 million compared to 2.7 million in 2000, before the NPP came into office. Pre-School enrolment has doubled. Primary school and Junior High School enrolment has increased by 50% because of these policies.

Of equal significance is the fact that enrolment at the Senior High School level has more than doubled (See table below).

Level No. of Schools Enrolment

2000/01 2007/08 2000/01 2007/08

Pre-School 5,976 11,140 649,677 1,258,483

Primary 11,916 13,247 2,477,990 3,622,724

JHS 6,133 7,267 804,419 1,224,964

SHS 474 493 204,000 454,681

􀁸 Teachers at the basic school level are now paid five times more than what they were paid in the year 2000.

􀁸 The NPP government established the University of Mines and Technology (formerly

KNUST School of Mines) at Tarkwa in the Western Region, the UDS Campus and the two Polytechnics in Wa and Bolgatanga in the Upper West and Upper East regions,

respectively.

􀁸 Enrolment in public universities has more than doubled – from 40,670 in 2000/01 to

88,445 in 2006/07. Enrolment in polytechnics also rose by more than 50% in that period

from 18,470 in 2000/2001 to 28,695 in 2006/2007.

Level No. of Institutions Enrolment

2000/01 2006/07 2000/01 2006/07 % increase

University 5 6 40,670 88,445 117%

Private Univ. 4 16 1,667 18,278 996%

Polytechnic 10 10 18,470 28,695 55%

Professional Ins. 3 3 2,013 4,350 116%

􀁸 The number of private universities quadrupled from only four in the year 2000/01 to

sixteen in 2006/07 with enrolment increasing sharply from less than 1,700 to over 18,000

in the same period.

􀁸 Under the policy of providing one model Senior High School for each District, 31 such

schools have been constructed and 25 are nearing completion under the first phase. This

programme shall be accelerated to benefit all Districts in the first term of the incoming

NPP administration.

The substantial expansion in both educational infrastructure and in enrolment at all levels of the educational system clearly represents the solid foundation which has been laid by the NPP administration for the future requirements of a modern society.

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1.12 YOUTH

We have provided a better future for the youth through our economic, educational and social achievements. Reflecting the importance that the NPP government attaches to job creation for the youth of Ghana, we introduced the National Youth Employment Programme in 2004. The Programme now employs 108,000 young people in various jobs grouped into five areas. We have demonstrated our commitment to the development of our youth through sports by building world class stadia in Tamale and Sekondi and rehabilitated and expanded Ohene Djan and Baba Yara sports stadia in Accra and Kumasi. We have commenced the construction of a brand new stadium in Cape Coast.

1.13 SPORTS

The NPP government has made remarkable improvement in sports promotion and development and achieved a lot since 2001 in all sectors of sports. Ghana has produced African, Commonwealth and World boxing champions, won gold medals in Athletics at the All Africa Games, Commonwealth Games and World Athletics Championships and won medals in other disciplines like soccer, hockey, cricket, and tennis others. We went to the World Cup for the first time in 2006 and hosted the African Cup of Nations, winning bronze and being ranked number one in Africa. The NPP government has invested extensively in sports infrastructure by fencing school and community fields and building sports centres in schools and universities across the country. Five world class stadia have been built and rehabilitated, and a sixth one is under construction, all within three years, in pursuit of the agenda of providing modern sports facilities in all parts of Ghana.

1.14 HEALTH

􀁸 The NPP Government introduced the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in 2003 to replace the inhumane “cash-and-carry” system under the NDC. The NHIS was first mooted in 1970 by the Progress Party under Professor K.A. Busia who constituted a committee headed by Dr. Konotey Ahulu to study the concept and make appropriate recommendations. The NHIS, which now covers about half the population (11.3 million

Ghanaians), provides a vastly more accessible and comprehensive health service unmatched in the history of our country. The NHIS provides free healthcare for children below 18 and the elderly over the age of 70. Over 6 million children and 400,000 elderly

are currently benefiting from the service. All pregnant women now have free maternal care. Under the NHIS, HIV positive individuals now receive highly subsidised  antiretroviral medicines.

􀁸 The introduction of the NHIS has led to a three-fold increase in hospital attendance in some areas. Out Patients Department (OPD) attendance has increased from a yearly average of 0.38 per capita in 2001 to 0.7 per capita in 2007. In areas such as the Brong

Ahafo region, OPD attendance has reached the 1.02 mark. More and more people who

need to use our health service now have the means to do so under NHIS.

􀁸 The NPP government has expanded health facilities at a rate unprecedented in our history.

In only seven years, our administration has constructed, throughout the country, 205 new

hospitals and clinics including 310 key district hospital facilities in Eastern, Volta and

Northern Regions. 48 clinics have been upgraded to hospitals and 33 hospitals and clinics

have undergone complete rehabilitation. 77 new projects are ongoing throughout the

country with 18 to be completed this year. 21 dental facilities have been constructed. A

US$339 million project, covering the construction of new regional and district hospitals,

has been initiated at Wa, Kumasi South, Manhyia, Konongo-Odumasi, Adenta/Madina,

Tepa and Salaga. 6 new polyclinics are being constructed at a cost of €7.6 million at

Karaga, Kpandai, Tatale, Buipe, Janga and Chereponi.

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􀁸 The construction of health facilities is matched by massive investment in training  health professionals, as shown in the following table:

Intake for Training in: 1999/2000 2006/2007

General Nursing 648 2,434

Community Health Nursing 102 1,841

Midwifery 48 614

Health Assistants (New) 0 964

Others 170 1,212

TOTAL INTAKE 968 7,065

From less than 1,000 in 1999/2000 the intake of health worker trainees had jumped to over 7,000 by 2006/2007. Over a short period of 6 years, Ghana is firmly on the road to producing the required numbers of health manpower for our health institutions.

􀁸 Doctors and other health workers receive the highest salaries ever paid in this country and are now among the best paid in Africa. The government of the NPP has made significant improvements in the service conditions of doctors and health workers. For the first time in our history, a College of Physicians and Surgeons has been established to provide and supervise post graduate medical training in Ghana. As a result, Ghana today retains 60% of locally trained doctors in contrast to 20% under NDC.

􀁸 The NPP Government has established a National Ambulance System for the first time in the history of this country to cater for medical emergencies throughout the country.

􀁸 In the 5 years before 2001, only 51% of all children were fully immunised. This figure had risen to 64.4% by 2006. Guinea worm disease which is a disease of poverty has reduced from over 8,000 in 2003 to 3,358 in 2007 and signs are that we are well on the way to eradication. Ghana was also certified free from polio in 2006 as a result of the strong emphasis in surveillance.

􀁸 These are all signs that Ghana is on the way to becoming a healthier nation. Within a space of just 8 years, we have managed to stem and turn around the deteriorating health fortunes of this country. We are Moving Forward!

1.15 HOUSING

The NPP has committed an unprecedented amount of government funds to address the nation’s housing shortage with GH¢30 million (¢300 billion) for the construction of affordable homes across the country. The target of constructing 100,000 affordable homes is a joint effort by government and the private sector. Within the conducive business environment, the private sector now provides an average of 40,000 homes a year. Government under its affordable housing programme is currently constructing a total of 3500 flats at Borteyman and Kpone in the Greater Accra Region (1,500 flats), Asokore-Mampong in the Ashanti Region (1,192 flats), Koforidua in the Eastern Region (400 flats), Tamale in the Northern Region (400 flats). The construction of an additional 1500 affordable housing units will commence in Sekondi, Takoradi, Sunyani, Cape Coast, Wa, Bolgatanga and Ho by 2009.

The Government now has land banks totalling 50,000 acres across the country for  housing development by the private sector. It has also instituted a rural housing scheme for cocoa farmers starting in the Western Region. It has also instituted a housing scheme for civil servants with a US$ 10 million facility placed with the Housing Finance Corporation (HFC).

1.16 ENERGY

􀁸 Under the National Electrification Project, 1,900 towns and villages were connected to the national grid in the ten year period 1990-2000. In just seven years (2001-2007) of the NPP government, a total of 2,400 towns and villages have benefitted from the project. We have plans to provide electricity to at least 600 towns and villages throughout the country every year for the next five years.

􀁸 Bui Dam, which was the dream of Governor Guggisberg in the 1920s, is now a reality

under the NPP government. President Kufuor cut the sod for work to begin at the site in

August 2007. This will add 400 megawatts to the country’s power generating capacity.

􀁸 The government has found investors for the construction of mini-hydro dams on Rivers

Pra, Ankobra and Tano. Together these dams will generate another 240 megawatts of

power for the country and provide irrigation water for our farm lands.

􀁸 The recent oil discovery in our deep waters off-shore is not by accident. We have struck oil because of the sound policies of the NPP government. The oil has always been there but the 19 years of (P)NDC rule could neither create the conducive investment climate nor the managerial direction for the oil to be found. In the short period between 2001 and 2005, the NPP government restructured and refocused the work of the GNPC and provided the conducive business environment to attract committed investors to our offshore oil fields. The result was the discoveries announced in June 2005, June 2007 and

February 2008. We expect more discoveries in the coming years and, as the party who

enabled these new finds, we are best placed to manage these new resources responsibly.

􀁸 Government has set up committees to draw a comprehensive oil sector policy starting

from exploration to downstream activities with attention on ensuring maximum local

content and local participation and the development to other sectors of the economy.

􀁸 The NPP government has encouraged the private sector to invest in power generation. The National Grid Company has been established to operate and supervise the power generation industry. This policy is producing positive results. Already five private companies (Independent Power Producers) have been issued licenses and all have started

work, thereby creating jobs for our youth. One of these has started building a 560 megawatt plant at Kpone in Tema for completion in 2009. When all five companies start energy production over the next two years, a large amount of jobs will be created for our

youth and energy supply for our industries will be assured.

1.17 ROADS

The NPP has dramatically expanded the road network as part of its commitment to improve the nation’s infrastructure which underpins our economy. In the last seven and a half years the road network has been increased by over 60% from 38,000 kilometres in 2001 to almost 64,000 kilometres in 2007. The massive road construction is equally distributed across regions and districts. The major new roads are the Accra-Kumasi, Accra-Aburi-Mamfe, Mallam-Kasoa, Winneba-Yamoransa, Tema-Aflao, Kumasi-Techiman-Kintampo, Wenchi-Bamboi-Bole, Tamale- Yendi, among others. The condition of our roads has also dramatically improved with the percentage of roads classified as in good condition rising from only 27% in 2001 to 46% in 2007.

The improvement and expansion of our road network have enhanced the movement of goods and farm produce benefitting farmers, manufacturers, businessmen and consumers in rural and urban areas.

In addition to the massive expansion of the road network, road safety measures instituted by the NPP government has led to a substantial drop in road traffic accident fatality rate from 31 deaths per 10,000 vehicles in 2001 to 22 deaths per 10,000 vehicles in 2007.

1.18 AVIATION

With the enactment of the new Civil Aviation Act of 2004, the regulatory and commercial

functions in the Aviation sub-sector have been separated. The Civil Aviation Authority now regulates our air space and its users. An Airports Company has been incorporated with responsibility for the development of airports infrastructure and commercial activities at the ports.

Three regional airports at Kumasi, Tamale and Takoradi have undergone significant

rehabilitation. These works were financed by the Government at an estimated cost of US$40 million.

1.19 RAILWAYS AND PORTS

To show commitment to rail transport the NPP government has since 2003 allocated GH¢5 million (¢50 billion), most of it HIPC funds, to Ghana Railway Company (GRCL) for the maintenance of the rail system. In 2005 the government provided GH¢9 million (¢90 billion) to GRCL to purchase rolling stock and new coaches for the revival of the Accra-Tema commuter rail line. After over 20 years of closure, this line is now up and running serving many commuters and relieving pressure on our roads. This is only a small step in the right direction. The favourable investment climate which the NPP government has created through prudent macro-economic management is attracting needed long term investment capital to the rail sector.

􀁸 For the Western line, the NPP Government has secured US$90 million, through a

Eurobond issue, which is to be used as equity in a consortium composed of Government of Ghana, local users of rail services and foreign investors. The project aims at constructing the 800 km Western rail line from Takoradi through Sunyani, Techiman and

Bole to Hamile on the border with Burkina Faso at a total investment cost of US$1.6

billion. The re-development of the Takoradi-Kumasi line shall be covered under the

project.

􀁸 For the Eastern line, agreements have been signed to reconstruct, expand and operate a

modern rail network between Accra and Paga.

􀁸 When implemented, these rail projects will provide Ghana with a modern, comfortable

and affordable means of travel for both citizens and tourists. They will reduce the costs of

transporting goods and food stuffs to the great benefit of both rural and urban consumers

and producers. It will also reduce the number of deaths resulting from motor accidents.

􀁸 Our ports have benefitted from many development projects under the NPP Government.

These include a first class container terminal, a fully equipped park for the discharge of

goods at Tema Port, and the rehabilitation and expansion of a dry dock at Takoradi Port.

1.20 METRO MASS TRANSPORT

By the end of NDC rule in the year 2000, urban transport service provided by the Omnibus Service Authority was virtually non-existent. The NPP Government introduced the Metro Mass Transport System in 2001 with only 17 buses. By June 2008, there was a total of 883 buses plying all routes in the urban areas, including the ten regional capitals. An additional 300 buses will be operational within the next twelve months. This represents a tremendous effort on the part of the Government to address the problem of urban transportation. The Metro Mass Transport not only provides a cheaper and more reliable service for commuters, but is also free for basic school pupils in Ghana, thus making it easier for more children to travel to school.

1.21 WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION

The NPP government has made tremendous progress in providing clean water and sanitation facilities to rural and urban dwellers. The following table compares the facilities provided before and during the NPP administration.

1994-2000 2001-2007

1. New Boreholes 3,804 8,191

2. New Pipe Systems 174 411

3. Household latrines and KVIP 11,002 43,861

In seven years (2001-2007), the NPP government provided twice as many water points (boreholes and wells) than in the period 1994-2000. Similarly, the NPP provided nearly two-and-half times more pipe borne water systems and four times more places of convenience. We have worked hard to provide the basic necessities of life for all citizens in the face of limited public finances.

By the year 2005, slightly more than half of rural dwellers were provided with potable water. The government is determined to raise this figure to 85 percent by the year 2010. Major urban water works completed or soon to be completed by the NPP administration include Accra East-West interconnection expected to supply additional 15 million gallons of water per day to the Western parts of Accra. The Kwanyaku, Cape Coast and Koforidua projects are nearing completion and will supply 3.5 million gallons of water per day to each town and the outlying villages. The Tamale and Barekese (Kumasi) projects are progressing steadily.

1.22 GENDER

The NPP Government has in the past few years in office demonstrated its commitment to

improving gender equality and equity through diverse actions and policies:

􀁸 the establishment, for the first time in the history of this country, a Women and Children’s Ministry to address issues of gender parity and empowerment

􀁸 the appointment, in our first term in office, of a Minister in charge of Girl-Child Education to address in a more focused way the elimination of disparities in education between sexes. We are proud to say that the gap between girls and boys’ education has been narrowed significantly

􀁸 the introduction of micro-credit financing that has helped to improve the economic

position of women. The Women Development Fund has disbursed GH¢ 11.3 million to

168,800 women countrywide since 2002. The beneficiaries are now able to contribute to

household income and meet the education and health needs of their families. With an

average household size of four people, 675,200 lives have been improved through the

programme

􀁸 the appointment, for the first time, of women to head key public service institutions such as the Judiciary, and Immigration Service

􀁸 the passage of the Domestic Violence Act and the Human Traffic Act to protect the

vulnerable members of our society including women and children from abuse

􀁸 the provision of free maternity health care to all pregnant women.

1.23 FOREIGN AFFAIRS

In the realm of Foreign Affairs, our record is enviable and the gains for Ghana, plentiful.

􀁸 We have established the best relations in our history with our neighbours Togo, La Cote d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso.

􀁸 We have promoted the ideals of ECOWAS through diplomacy and peace-keeping

measures. Our President served as President of ECOWAS for two terms.

􀁸 Ghana has played a leading role in setting the agenda of the AU, serving as Chair of the AU and hosted the AU Summit of 2007.

􀁸 Ghana won international recognition for her role in brokering peace in numerous countries in Africa including Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire and Kenya.

􀁸 Ghana regained its international respect among nations globally, thus reviving the image of our nation. Our good governance rating was top of the pack.

􀁸 Ghana has accrued tremendous benefits from the NPP’s great successes in economic

diplomacy. China helped in infrastructure development culminating in the Bui Dam

project. India assisted with the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre for Excellence in IT, the

Presidential Complex, rural electrification, 3,000 tractors and assistance for the security and medical sectors. The Japanese contributed via the Japanese Grant for small and

medium scale business and significant infrastructure. Assistance from Europe, the US and

other development partners increased significantly with the US topping this with the

MCA.

1.24 SUMMARY

These are just some of our achievements since 2001 and we are proud of them. They attest to the solid foundation laid in the first two terms of our administration. We have demonstrated clearly, that we are the safest pair of hands to hold and continue to build our nation. With a renewed mandate in January 2009, the next NPP government will, with determination, build on this solid foundation to create a better future for us all. Ghanaians risk our future and knock this foundation down by returning the NDC to power. Remember what they did with our lives in those 19 miserable years (1981-2000) of their rule?

The rest of this document outlines the building plans of the “new house of prosperity” which the NPP government under Nana Akufo-Addo will build. It will rest on the solid foundation laid by the Kufuor administration. We discuss how we plan to strengthen and protect the democracy and freedom which Ghanaians have all worked so hard to build (Chapter 2). This is followed by an account of how we intend to create prosperity and wealth for the people of Ghana (Chapter 3) and transform their lives for an improved welfare and wellbeing through better education, better healthcare, housing and more jobs for our youth (Chapter 4). Finally, our country’s place in the new globalised world is discussed (Chapter 5) with a focus on enhancing our image and reputation in West Africa, Africa and the rest of the world.

We appeal to you to join with the NPP in building the “new house” by voting for our Presidential and Parliamentary candidates come 7th December 2008.

We are moving forward!

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2.0 STRENGTHENING OUR DEMOCRACY

2.1 THE PRESIDENCY AND PUBLIC SERVICE

Sharpening the tool of Governance

The Presidency will act as the vital force in driving the public sector to transform society. It will provide the vision, direction and inspiration for a most prosperous Ghana. The Presidency will provide the leadership and commitment for national transformation and serve as the hub around which the entire public administration will revolve. Its vision will guide policy formulation, implementation and monitoring.

2.1.1 The Presidency and the Private Sector

Now that the NPP government has established macroeconomic stability for Ghana, the executive power of the State will be positively applied to support fully, market-based development. The Presidency will support the process of strengthening the Ghanaian private sector. This envisages presidential-led State support for entrepreneurs in Ghana, both indigenous and local economic operators. Our industrialists, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, food processors, crop and livestock farmers will witness a market enhancement of their business activities.

Those who seek profit (which is the reward for risk-taking) will be encouraged and become new pillars for national development. Such encouragement will come in the form of infusion of capital, application of technology, tax and other fiscal incentives and a level playing field. The increase in tax revenue from such growth will be ploughed back to create new job opportunities for our youth.

By this, we will see rising employment through a variety of SMEs and large industrial companies.

2.2 PROMOTING GOOD GOVERNANCE

2.2.1 Parliament

The NPP administration has enhanced the functioning of parliament by ensuring that the

institution is provided with the resources it requires to function – within the constraints of the national budget. The incoming NPP government will take the necessary steps to provide finally the country’s legislators with the means to carry out their duties. In this regard, we shall improve office accommodation for use by MPs and link their offices with the other arms of government through the e-governance project. They will be provided with research and secretarial staff to enhance their work. We shall provide parliamentary staff with further training to increase their skills and provide a more efficient service.

2.2.2 Judiciary

Central to our agenda of rapidly transforming Ghanaian society is the independence of the

judiciary. The judiciary will continue to enjoy the support needed to ensure its independence.

Legal training institutions will be expanded to ensure adequate supply of qualified legal

personnel. The incentive structure of the service will be reviewed to maintain and enhance the profile and status of the Bench. New court buildings will be constructed in each district to ensure that each citizen has easy and ready access to the justice system, thereby strengthening the rule of law.