I’m active on Snapchat and Twitter – Prez. Mahama

• Posted on August 12, 2015
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

President John Mahama has spoken to the nation as Ghana marks International Youth Day. He has touched on several issues notably the striking doctors and also an attempt by a mentally unstable person to shot him in church.

Speaking on government-owned Unique Breakfast Drive Tuesday, President Mahama has talked about efforts government is making to address unemployment, the deficit and youth enterprise. He has also addressed the contentious strike by the Ghana Medical Association stressing that the strike is illegal.

But the President also touched on light matters including who is his favourite artiste.

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Youth and Education

The President has noted that opportunities for the youth are growing wider because of relentless improvement in access to education. He contrasts the period during which girls lagged far behind in education but today are “threatening to overhaul” the boys as girl child education attains remarkable parity.

He also points out that ICT is giving Ghanaian youths access to knowledge and hence generating opportunities unimagined hitherto.

Youth unemployment and entrepreneurship

Government can no longer employ graduates as was the case in the past. The private sector, therefore needs to be equipped to help expand the economy while young entrepreneurs are being encouraged under the Youth Enterprise Support Programme.

Addressing economic growth, he says Ghana needs a rate of economic growth that outstrips population growth. He says one way to help grow the informal sector is a proper identification system in Ghana.

“We don’t have a database of taxi drivers. How do we help taxi drivers? It is a shot in the dark,” he laments.

He says to there is an aggressive attempt by government to know its citizens thoroughly. Most District assemblies are naming streets, putting Ghanaians on GPRS for spot-on identification. He says state institutions, DVLA, NHIS, Electoral Commission have different databases and do not share information.

He stresses the importance of integrating the information hence the establishment of a National Data Center.

Mahama speaking on entrepreneurship notes that capital is not the first thing to establish a business. He says from the PNDC era, government has pushed monies into the private sector but it has mounted to little.

This, he observes, proves that having an idea and preparing oneself for the business is more important than capital.

Touching on Youth Enterprise Support (YES), the President says those who were unable to get their proposals accepted can re-apply next time for consideration. He also points to the Skills Development programme where the youth can also access opportunities in entreprenuership.

I am active on social media- Mahama

President Mahama expresses excitement at the level of telecommunication liberalization in Ghana. The government is working to establish an outsourcing center to employ about 10,000 young people to take advantage of the booming technology industry.

He points to local Ghanaian Apps that are breaking barriers and providing services. People can now use an App to order meals.

The President who is an active user of social media, condemns the abuse of the medium through insults, smear campaigns and pornography.

He says when he has the time usually week-ends, he interacts directly on social media

“There are times when I am personally behind. If I point JM then it means I am communicating” he said.

How is government helping local industries?

Government is supporting local industries to help wean the country off foreign tastes and products. He says government has invested 50million Ghana cedis into Pharmaceutical industries to become export industries and produce drugs for the local market.

He mentions Tobinco as one beneficiary. Mahama says a local tomato company is now capable of producing about half of the national demand for tomato

Rice farming, poultry farms are all getting “visible” and “tangible” support.

On the Ghana@100 development plan, President Mahama says “there must be that flexibility so that whichever governments are in power” it can follow the long-term development objectives.

Whether you are socialist or capitalist or left-leaning, there can be consensus on how Ghana should look in 40 years time, he stresses.

Ghana has a cyclical problem with the economy because of dependence on external economic shocks and also during election years, he says. He says building the capacity of the local economy can help reduce dependence on volatile international economic systems.

Poor prices for raw materials affect government revenue severely.

“In 2012 we were aiming at 5.7% fiscal deficit, we made 12%”, he expresses regrets. Nonetheless, government has made progress in bridging the deficit.

Government is reducing dependence on Bank of Ghana as part of fiscal consolidation measures, he says. Inflation is dropping and the cedi is “in the process of finding its true stable level”, Mahama notes.

“We are coming out of the woods” he states and stresses it is not because of IMF programme necessarily but because of government’s fiscal discipline based on a home-grown policy it presented to the IMF.

He debunks the notion that IMF is behind the freeze on public employment. About 73% of taxes was used to pay salaries of about 600,000 people in the public sector, a very dangerous trend, he fears. The remaining taxes is what must be used to support statutory organisations and also roll out its social infrastructure programmes. This is inadequate, the president notes.

But from 2013, government has reduced the use of taxes to pay revenues from 73% to 49% of tax revenue freeing up funds for other projects.

It is not even true that there is a freeze on public employment, he says. Doctors, teachers nurses are being employed because they are of strategic importance to the economy, he explains.

“The time has come for us that we have to do what we have to do”, he rallies and dismisses that he is not concerned about political cost of controversial decisions.

Government has taken some of the toughest decisions ever in the history of the country, he says. Petroleum price deregulation is in full swing to the benefit of consumers. Oil marketing Companies are competing to cut prices on petroleum products.

He says he is not a wicked person as some make him look.

“If I could give petrol free or let everybody enjoy free electricity I will do that”. But VRA [which generates power] will crush, he fears.

GMA strike

“Nobody must die because of a strike. The strike is illegal, absolutely illegal” he condemns doctors who have withdrawn Out-patient services and also emergency services. The doctors may resign en masse by Friday.

John Mahama says the labour laws does not allow negotiations during strike. Doctors are not the only contributiors to healthcare, he says. Cleaners who wipe off blood in wards are also contributing to healthcare.

Over 5,000 others in the healthcare system are linked to the demands of the doctors. Government is paying the salaries and allowance so he cannot understand the actions of the doctors to strike based on the lack of conditions of service.

Is strike the language his government understands?

“No it is not true” he says. Junior doctors had to storm the Controller and Accountant General’s Department before their demand for 11 months unpaid salaries were fulfilled.

He explains that reforms are on-going at the Controller and Accountant General’s Department hence the delay

“That misperception is what makes everybody declare strike”. President John Mahama says government will negotiate in “good faith” and so doctors should return to work.

Government has spent 1billion dollars on healthcare infrastructure. Government has opened 31 new Midwifery training institutions. He says under his government, investment in healthcare is unprecedented.

Mahama’s church assassin?

The BNI is investigating. “I didn’t think much of it. God is my protector….no weapons fashioned against me shall prosper” he refers to scriptures in Isaiah.

Does that entrench his “deadgoat” syndrome?

“I am a living goat” not a deadgoat, President Mahama jokes after his ‘deadgoat’ comment meant to stress how unyielding he will be to labour demands ahead of 2016, sparked national controversy.

Will he sack his Power Minister Kwabena Donkor who promised to end loadshedding by December?

“I always remind him that his head is on the block”, Mahama stresses. The days of depending on Akosombo Dam is over he says. The Dam is now back-up and not the main source of power.

More than 1,000 megawatts in emergency power is coming on stream. Maintenance works on thermal plants are also ongoing. Hdyro provides about 1,200 megawatts but thermal power will outstrip it by contributing over 1,500 megawatts.

He charges Ghanaians to stop those involved in illegal connection.

Mahama’s Music list

Kojo Ankwi continues to be my favourite. Ambolley, KK Kabobo. On the younger genre of musicians, the President says he likes Wuta, VVIP, Stonebuoy.

Movie industry favourites?.

I watch Nigerian movies and Ghanaian movies. He likes Shirley Frimpong-Manso and praises her productions as exceptional. He says he has watched ‘Perfect Picture’. He likes funny man, Lil Wayne, Jackie Appiah, Jon Dumelo. While he is on the plane, travelling, he watches Ghanaian movies.

The Kwame Nkrumah Interchange will be finished by the middle of next year. He also says the 37 Hospital to Burma Camp is progressing very well. Several linking roads will transfrom traffic situation in Accra, Kasoa and roads into Kumasi.

“We are doing a lot of roads” he runs out of recollecting several road projects.

Like painting a picture, it often looks chaotic. “Until when he is finished you don’t know what he is doing” he says.

“We are drawing a picture on Ghana’s canvass, it may look chaotic to those who can’t see it now but it will be a beautiful picture” he assures.

Responding to questions on social media

Lecturers are also on strike demanding the payment of book and research allowance what is he doing about it? Mahama says he is yet to be briefed about it.

In his final comments, President Mahama says the economy is not for him. It is for the entire nation hence labour groups should tone down on their demands.

-joy