Accra, Jan 31, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor said on Tuesday that the 2006 Budget was a reflection of the attainment of a level of economic stability which must be pressed on for accelerated growth.

He cited the country's 100 percent multi-lateral and bi-lateral debt cancellation amounting to around 7 billion dollars, the VALCO Plant that was back on stream, investments by world class companies including Fruitier, Anglogold-Ashanti, Newmont and MAERSK, that is to build a container terminal, the biggest in Africa in Ghana.

Others, he said, were the interest expressed by a consortium of investors comprising mining companies, port operator and countries to join government to rehabilitate the railway system, the expected completion of the West African Gas Pipeline, accessing the Millennium Challenge Account and the expansion of the social infrastructure.

"The vision and policies are right, the structures are in place and a firm foundation has created the plateau to serve as the spring board for launching accelerated growth", he said in his State of the Nation's Address to Parliament.

President Kufuor said the challenge now was how to ensure a vigorous, purposeful and effective implementation and monitoring in the conduct of business in all sectors of society, both public and private. No organization should be exempted from the Constitutional requirements for transparency and accountability in governance.

"This coupled with effective implementation, monitoring and continuous evaluation will help us meet the challenge."

President Kufuor re-affirmed his determination to strengthen the Presidency and for that matter the government to achieve the vigorous, purposeful and effective implementation of envisaged policies. Already, a restructuring of roles and responsibilities for streamlining the Presidency was underway with the view to optimising the performance of all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government on time-action principle.

He therefore recommended to other autonomous organs of state to adopt the principle of self-assessment to improve their performance. The President specifically mentioned the Judiciary and the Legislature and invited the two bodies to join the crusade and initiate action towards that goal in their sectors.

President Kufuor said "Investing in People, Inve sting in Jobs" the sub-theme of the budget, captured the very essence of His Government's policies, which aimed at creating a just, humane and prosperous society in which all individuals as well as groups would be empowered to pursue their legitimate goals, to realize their full potentials and contribute to the development of the nation.