The leader of the New Force Movement, Nana Kwame Bediako, popularly known as Cheddar, launched his manifesto for the 2024 presidential election on Sunday, September 1, 2024.

The manifesto, dubbed ‘12 Pillars for Economic Freedom,’ detailed Cheddar’s policies and plans to help Ghana get out of its current hardships and eventually achieve economic liberation.

Below are highlights of Cheddar's 12 Pillars for Economic Freedom manifesto:

Run a government of only 12 ministers

Cheddar promised to run the leanest government in Ghana’s history with only 12 ministers if elected president on December 7, 2024.

His ‘Apostolic Government’ would have the following ministries: Finance, Trade, Education, Agriculture, Foreign Affairs, Interior, Sports and Business Development, Health, Justice, Energy, Business and Employment, Defence, and Tourism. he stated.

Raise $50 billion by monetising Ghanaian citizenship

The presidential hopeful also indicated that the major source of funds for his government would be selling Ghanaian citizenship.

He indicated that this would help the country raise $50 billion, which would be a solution to Ghana’s problems.

He explained that his government would come up with an immigration package to monetise Ghana’s citizenship.

This initiative, he also indicated, would be the starting point of having a United States of Africa.

"We [Ghana] will be the first people to start the project USA - United States of Africa, by people joining us [Ghana] and we welcoming them through our borders but also, they will also be investing on our land."

Ghana would print its own currency

He also pledged to move the country away from engaging foreign countries when it comes to printing currency notes if given the nod in the pending presidential elections.

He argued that Ghana does not need to source the printing of its currency to firms operating in countries like Switzerland, Belarus, England, and others.

“What happens to the industrial power that we are creating now? We are going to print money on our own. We don’t need to go to America or England to print money.

“We don’t need to go anywhere else to buy food and bring it here. We don’t need to pay seven times the taxes of what is already in our country, packaged by someone else at a premium price, and bring it back here. That stops because we are going to create them here,” Nana Kwame Bediako said.

Change SSNIT into National Insurance Fund

The leader of the New Force also promised to change the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to the National Insurance Fund.

Under the National Insurance Fund, he said contributors can go for their monies at any time.

Establish a National Sovereign Wealth Fund, the new IMF

Cheddar also stated that he would establish a National Sovereign Wealth Fund which would help the country stop borrowing and free it from the International Monetary Fund.

“We are going to create the National Sovereign Wealth Fund; this is the new IMF. Well, at this very point, Ghana will help me launch the new IMF. Because verbally it is said but physically and mentally, we are about to implement it. This pillar is a new policy and it will disrupt and dissolve but eventually, it will rebuild our heritage value.

“In the past, our minerals have been extracted and exported for pennies, we are ending it. The National Sovereign Wealth Fund is the new IMF, independent and autonomous. It will collect every reserve and will keep it and protect it.”

Construct Ghana’s first water transportation

Cheddar also proposed the creation of a water transport system as a solution to Ghana’s transport system.

This, he believes, would help expand the country's transport system and allow for ease and cheaper transportation of persons, goods, and services.

His other objective for the transport sector would be to construct an 8000KM railway line across the country.

Build a food reserve to serve Ghana for the next 100 years

The founder of the New Force also stated that his government, under an ‘Agro Reserves’ programme, would capitalise on the arable lands of the country to establish the biggest seedling bank.

He indicated that this would help Ghana in terms of food security for 100 years and be able to also supply to the world.

“We intend to build the biggest seedling bank and have food security for 100 years. It is called Agro Reserves. That is what we need, we will nurture this, we would actually feed this,” he noted.

He also intends to create reserves for other resources of the country, including gold and cocoa, which would be used for the country’s development.

Create an Energy City

Cheddar also promised to make Ghana a tech hub, build a nuclear power plant, and construct a renewable energy infrastructure.

“We are going to create an energy city that is fit to power all industries. No energy, no technology. Ghana needs a technology hub and that’s why we’re combining it with an energy city,” he stated.

Combine Industri-cation, Industrialisation and Education

He also promised to change the educational curriculum by leveraging skills that turn students into entrepreneurs and not job seekers.

He noted that his government would de-westernise Ghana’s education and have an educational system that would answer to the needs of the country’s industrial sector.

Build a National WEB3 platform

He also promised to build a National WEB3 platform and data centres which would empower Ghana to control information technology both locally and beyond.

He also stated he would migrate all statutory and national data to a blockchain platform to curb corruption.

“We aim to position ourselves as leaders in the global crypto farming industry. Our data centres will mine digital coins, engage in tokenisation, and mint coins, tapping into a multi-trillion-dollar industry. This will make Ghana the gateway to Africa's Web3 industry in Africa," he explained.

Build Hollywood studios

Cheddar also promised to build studios in the country to help with the development of the country’s creative art sector.

This, he believes, would help artistes own their catalogues, musicians earn reasonable royalties, and own the distribution and recording platforms!

BAI/AE

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