“Things are on track; the economy will be strong and resilient next year”- Prez Mahama assures

• Posted on November 18, 2013
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, has expressed optimism that with prudent management by the government, the economy will be strong and resilient next year.

He said the economy would be robust in 2015, and much stronger in 2016.

“Things are on track. We have done a good job. The economy is responding. By 2015, the economy will be scaling and by 2016 it should be flying up in the air,” he said.

President Mahama was speaking at a meeting with the Volta Regional executive of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ho at the weekend.

The visit marked the first phase of the President’s working visits to all the 10 regions.

The second leg of the visit will take him to the Central Region on Thursday, November 21, 2013.

President Mahama said Ghana’s economy, like others across the world was facing some challenges.

He pointed out, for instance, that last year was the climax of the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS), raising the wage bill to Ghc9 billion, out of a total revenue of Ghc16 billion.

He said his team was working on the economy and indicated that it had started showing some positive results, adding that despite the challenges, members of his team would continue to work to grow the economy and improve the living conditions of the people.

The President was highly optimistic that Ghanaians would see a very strong and resilient economy next year.

President Mahama said because Ghana had attained a lower middle-income status, donor support for the country had reduced significantly, for which reason the government had to find ways of raising more revenue from taxes.

Besides, he said, the government had taken steps to block revenue loopholes and retrieve money to the state.

He said the government would work assiduously to bring down the rate of inflation and reduce the deficit.

President Mahama said he had directed the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning to release money from the Eurobond account for the execution of the Eastern Corridor Road project.

Besides, he said, the financial arrangement for the expansion of the Volta Regional Hospital into a teaching hospital was being finalised.

The President said the government would build modern landing sites in the coastal areas of the region as part of projects under the Eastern Corridor Multi Modal Project.

He said all the roads in the coastal areas would also be developed and tarred.

President Mahama affirmed his commitment to support the construction of the University of Health and Allied Sciences in memory of the late President John Evans Atta Mills who initiated the project.

President Mahama, who is also the leader of the NDC, called for cohesion among members of the party and strong organisation at the grass roots.

He asked the executive members to continuously market the party and not wait to do so only in an election year.

The Volta Regional Chairman of the NDC, Mr Kwesi Aboagye, said the party was alive in the region and that the executive members were committed to supporting the government.

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