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For the peace In Dagbon, your name will forever be etched in our hearts – Yaa Naa hails Akufo-Addo
The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has received resounding praise and applause from the overlord of Dagbon Traditional area for superintending the restoration and maintenance of much-desired peace in Dagbon.
President Akufo-Addo, today 15th October 2024, visited the Yaa Naa at the Gbewaa Palace in Yendi as part of a scheduled two-day tour of the Northern, North East and Savanna regions.
Yaa Naa Abukari Andani II, the overlord of Dagbon, conveyed the gratitude of Dagbon to the President for speedily yet tactfully resolving the protracted Dagbon conflict which had hitherto claimed lots of lives and stated that his name will forever be etched in the history of Dagbon and the country.
“Your decisive leadership in ending the protracted mediation process between Abudu and Andani families through the esteemed committee of eminent Chiefs which included His Majesty the Nayiri, His Majesty the Yagbonwura and His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, is the masterstroke that paved the way for the performance of the funerals of our two deceased Yaa Naa.”
He also referred to President Akufo-Addo’s continued support to ensure the installation of the new Yaa Naa and sustained guidance to maintain the peace in Dagbon.
He continued that the traditional offer of a Bull and a hundred tubers of yam serves as a tangible expression of the deep respect and honour that “I hold for you as friend and benefactor.”
He was also grateful for the appointment of key people from the area to various leadership positions within the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration with the appointment of the first Finance Minister from the North, particularly significant and demonstrating President Akufo-Addo’s recognition of the capabilities and their potential commitment to inclusive leadership.
“May your legacy continue to inspire generations to come, and you will be cherished as a true statesman and champion of peace and security,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo, on his part, said, “the settlement that has seen you preside over the reconciliation of Dagbon and the restoration of the peace and stability of this great kingdom. And I want to congratulate you, on the success of your reign as Yaa-Naa of Dagbon.”
He added that, “the Dagbon case is a great example to all the traditional institutions of our country, that when people work together, they can get positive results, and in you, we have an example of what a wise, sagacious forward looking Chief can do for his people.”
“As I get ready to step down in three months times, it is right for me to go around and thank the people of Ghana for the confidence, the support that they have given to me and to come and say goodbye to you and the people of Dagbon.”
He also thanked Dagbon for the support and encouragement over these last eight years and appreciated the work done together to ensure the peace, the stability and the progress of Dagbon.
President Akufo-Addo also rallied the support of Dagbon for Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, saying, “he is not just a worthy son, but a competent, knowledgeable and above all an honest man whom I believe is the person that can continue the work that I have begun.”
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Government to spend GH¢13.9 billion on infrastructure in 2025 – Deputy Finance Minister
Government will commit GH¢13.9 billion in 2025 to priority infrastructure projects under its “Big Push” initiative, with the amount projected to rise to GH¢21.2 billion by 2028, Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Ampem Nyarko has announced.
According to him, the funds will be drawn mainly from petroleum revenues under the Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA) and mineral royalties.
He indicated that the projects will focus on roads, transport, energy, power generation, digital infrastructure, and urban and rural development.
Mr. Ampem described the “Big Push” as an economic reset powered by a US$10 billion programme, stressing that the country’s infrastructure needs remain urgent.
He explained that Ghana requires US$37 billion every year for the next 30 years to meet development goals across sectors. Maintaining existing infrastructure alone, he added, will cost an extra US$8 billion annually.
The Deputy Minister drew attention to Ghana’s score of 47 out of 100 on the Global Infrastructure Hub index, which is below the average for lower-middle-income countries.
He argued that this was a sign of chronic underinvestment in critical sectors.
“Our cities need better transport. Our industries require dependable energy. Our farmers need modern irrigation. And our youth demand digital highways for the future,” he emphasized.
Mr. Ampem highlighted the limits of government spending, pointing out that the public purse cannot meet the demands alone. He stressed that Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are therefore indispensable.
He revealed that the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) will set up Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) to attract private capital, blended finance, and international development funding.
The Deputy Minister urged both local and international investors to explore opportunities in transport, energy, digital infrastructure, and urban development, describing them as “vast and transformative.”
He assured that the framework is in place, the vision is clear, and the government’s commitment under President Mahama’s leadership remains firm.
Mr. Ampem called for strong collaboration between government and the private sector, noting that sustainable infrastructure transformation will require a united effort.
The announcement was made at the KPMG Infrastructure Roadshow in Accra, held under the theme “Unlocking Ghana’s Public-Private Partnership Potential: Bridging Reform and Results”.
The event brought together policymakers, investors, engineers, and business leaders to explore strategies for accelerating infrastructure development.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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Ghana Tourism Marketplace is good initiative – Alisa Asamoah
The immediate past President of the Tour Operators Union of Ghana (TOUGHA), Chief Executive of Riali Consult, Mrs. Alisa Osei Asamoah, has lauded the Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC) for its efforts to improve the viability of the sector through the Ghana Tourism Marketplace (GTM).
The GTM is an innovative platform that aggregates all tourism and hospitality vendors in Ghana, providing a unified platform for the distribution of their products and services.
The GTM is a shared economy model to benefit all stakeholders in the tourism ecosystem.
Speaking to the media after a stakeholder deliberation on GTM, Mrs.Asamoah said, this is what they are looking for. According to her, it is a good initiative by the GTDC.
“This is what we are all looking for. When you go to South Africa, and other countries, they have initiated the same thing,” he said.
She said this would positively impact the industry because that is where the private sector would exhibit their products, adding that it is going to be competitive.
Mrs.Asamoah concluded that this would increase trust between them and their clients, and from the presentation, the project would be very sustainable.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
