General News of Friday, 1 May 2020

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

May Day: Bawumia outlines 37 reasons to celebrate Ghana's 'number one worker' Prez Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has applauded the hard work of President Nana Akufo-Addo and outlined several reasons to celebrate him on workers' day.

Writing on his Facebook wall, Dr. Bawumia noted that after three years in office, the President's hard work and a number of policy interventions have contributed to alleviating the suffering of Ghanaian workers.

"On this workers day, I would like to salute Ghana’s number one worker, His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, for his hard work and what he has done for Ghanaian workers after 3 years in office," wrote Dr. Bawumia.

"The suffering of our workers has been reduced by your policies."

The Vice President, renowned for his love for data and statistics then proceeded to list about 37 policy interventions the President has implemented in the past three years to alleviate the suffering of the Ghanaian worker.

The interventions include creation of over 350,000 public sector jobs, reduction in cost of electricity, reduction of import suties by 50%, restoration nursing and teacher trainee allowances, free SHS, among many other.

Earlier on his Facebook wall, Dr. Bawumia congratulated all Ghanaian workers for their "hard work and patriotic contribution to the development of Ghana".

Below is the full list of interventions Dr. Bawumia listed to applaud President Akufo-Addo on May Day.

1. Creation of over 350,000 jobs created in the public sector alone and much more in the private sector
2. Reduction in the cost of electricity – compared with the 45% annual average increase between 2013-2016
3. In the midst of COVID-19, free electricity for lifeline consumers and 50% reduction for all others for the months of April, May and June 2020
4. In the midst of COVID-19, free water to all Ghanaians for the months of April, May and June
5. Abolished the payment of utility bills by students
6. Restoration of macroeconomic stability
• Inflation down
• Growth up
• Interest rates down
• Exchange rate depreciation down
7. Domestic Production and supply of personal protective equipment for our health workers
8. Reducing Import Duties- by 50%
9. Reduction and abolition of 15 taxes
10. Planting for food and Jobs- subsidized fertilizer, seeds and extension services to farmers
11. Restoring the cancelled Teacher Training Allowances
12. Restoring the cancelled Nursing Training Allowances
13. Restoring cancelled allowances to Arabic Instructors
14. Increasing the peace keeping allowances of the military and police from $31 to $35 per day.
15. Paying arrears of teachers who were paid only 3 months salary for over 2 years of work
16. Doubling the capitation grant
17. Absorbing the cost of WASSCE registration
18. Major increase in scholarship awards to students by the scholarship Secretariat
19. Increased efficiency of government service delivery through the Digitization of government services such as Passport Application, DVLA, Registrar General, NHIS Renewal, ECG power purchases, etc.
20. Protecting the deposits of millions of over 14 million Ghanaians by saving the banking system from collapse
21. Saving the National Health Insurance Scheme from collapse through a drastic reduction in the outstanding arrears to service providers
22. Massive Payment of arrears to road contractors
23. Over 600 vehicles and three helicopters other equipment for the police service
24. One district one factory – on course
25. Revival of Anglogold Ashanti
26. Revival of Ghana Publishing Company
27. Revival of Ghana Post
28. Revival of our Railways
29. National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program (NEIP)
30. One Village One Dam – on course
31. One constituency one ambulance
32. Emergency medical deliveries through drones (the largest such program in the world)
33. Nation Builders Corps – 100,000 graduates employed
34. Absorbing the fees for post graduate medical training –
35. Restoring research allowances in tertiary institutions –
36. Employing persons with disabilities to man 50% of all our toll booths –
37. Implementation of Free Senior High School Education
Ayeekooo Mr. President (We thank God for you) and Ayeekooo to all Ghanaian workers!