Opinions of Thursday, 12 June 2008

Columnist: www.nduom08.com

Nduom's Ten Point Agenda for CHANGE

Paa Kwesi Nduom’s Ten Point Agenda for CHANGE you can feel in your pocket.

? Vision for Ghana

Create a just and disciplined society with a passion for excellence with a per capita income of at least $5,000 in the next five to ten years.

? Improve the Performance of Government

Reform state institutions, reduce the size of government to cut down expenditure and facilitate the work of the private sector and Ghanaian society in general.

? Give Power to the People for Development

Sponsor changing the Constitution to enable the election of all District Assembly Members and District/Municipal/Metropolitan Chief Executives to ensure local accountability and rapid development.

? Strengthen Parliament to perform its legislative duties effectively Sponsor changing the Constitution to abolish the provision that allows Ministers of State to also serve as Members of Parliament.

? Provide Quality Education for Every Ghanaian Child Standardize school facilities from kindergarten to Senior High School with libraries, toilets, classrooms, kitchen, housing for teachers, playground, etc: and Ensure free and compulsory education in public schools from kindergarten to Senior High School.

? Energy for Industrialisation and Rapid Development Implement solutions with a sense of urgency to meet domestic needs for industry and domestic use and make Ghana a net exporter of power again in four years. Provide tax incentives to enable development of alternative sources of fuel and power – bio fuels and solar.

? Better Health Care and Cleaner Environment Ensure a cleaner environment free from preventable diseases like malaria, cholera and guinea worm. Provide affordable and accessible health care for all in every region.

? Attack the Drug Trade and Corruption Attack the drug trade and corruption aggressively using leadership by example, being modest in government, passing and implementing the Right to Information Bill and ensuring an independent prosecutor’s office exists separate from the Ministry of Justice. Strengthen the Narcotics Board to make it the agency responsible for fighting the drug trade with all the human, financial and other resources needed for success. Strengthen the Police Force by providing resources and training to fight crime.

? Homecoming Secretariat Establish a Secretariat to cater for the needs of Ghanaians Abroad and the African Diaspora. Provide a support system to encourage re-entry, investment, safe and healthy vacations and transfer of knowledge and technology.

? Job Creation Use government’s purchasing power to ensure that we eat what we grow and use what we produce in Ghana. Improve Ghana’s business climate to enable investment in job creation so that our people will stay at home to help develop the country and its economy. Support Ghanaian industry and our farmers and fishermen with low interest loans, technical assistance, tax incentives and priority access to the Ghanaian market. An inter- region highway built with the same high quality will be built throughout the country to open up the country for investment. CPP www.nduom08.com Yeresesamu!