The President of The Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says the use of some of the country’s oil revenues to fund the Free Senior High School policy, which is guaranteeing all Ghanaian school-going school access to senior high school education, is most appropriate.
According to President Akufo-Addo, “We are using some of the income from our oil revenue to fund the programme. I believe strongly that this is the most equitable and transparent use of the oil revenue, instead of it finding its way into the pockets of politicians and bureaucrats.”
As a result of the implementation of the Free SHS policy, the President stated that his Government is laying a strong foundation for an educated and skilled workforce of the future, adding that “we are investing in our future scientists, engineers, modern farmers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and transformation agents!”
President Akufo-Addo made this known on Friday, 11th May, 2018, when he delivered the keynote address at the 2018 Oxford Africa Conference, at the University of Oxford.
This year, the Akufo-Addo government has announced that it will spend some GH¢453 million ($103 million) of the country’s oil revenue on funding Free SHS, more than double the amount spent last year on funding the policy.
Addressing the gathering on the theme “Enough Rhetoric: Catalysing an Era of Concrete Action”, the President stated that his administration has embarked on shifting the emphasis in education to ensure that science, technology, engineering and mathematics drive all sectors of the economy.
“We are committing resources to basic and applied science and engineering to ensure that we are able to meet the critical need for technicians and engineers. This process encompasses also a scaling up of technical, vocational and education training to supply the skills needed to build a modern economy,” he added.
Increase in Trade
Touching on the issue of trade, President Akufo-Addo stated that the ratification of the Continental Free Trade Area agreement by the Ghanaian Parliament, would mean that the era of low volumes of intra-continental trade that have defined the activities of the African economies will come to an end.
“Up till now, trade between African regions has remained low compared to other parts of the world. In 2000, intra-regional trade accounted for 10% of Africa’s total trade, and increased marginally to 11% in 2015. Trading amongst members of the European Union, for example, amounted to 70% in 2015,” the President said.
He noted that with Africa’s population set to increase from 1.2 billion to 2 billion in 20 years time, an increase in intra-regional trade in Africa is the surest way to develop fruitful relations between African countries.
This market, he explained, will present immense opportunities to bring wealth and prosperity to the African people, with hard work, ingenuity, innovation and enterprise.
“It will mean a rapid increase in exchanges of our agricultural, financial, industrial, scientific and technological products, which would enhance dramatically our attainment of prosperity, and the prospects of employment for the broad masses of Africans, particularly our youth. Our economies would then be shaped not by the production and export of raw materials, but by the things we make,” he added.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
Thank you! We should learn to address issues instead of the insults. Well, unless ppl feel so threatened by the impact this policy would have (if it works and i pray it does) that they have to insult and divert attention from the real issues. Let's invest our energies into constructive critisisms and on improving things for the country and stop looking at things with political lenses.
Address the issues and stop insulting the President. You might find it amusing but it is completely pointless from Ghana's and Ghanaians' point of view. Is spending a fraction of the country's income from oil on Free SHS a good idea or not? And if, for some strange reason, NDC commentators think that investing in the education and training of young Ghanaians is a bad idea they should tell us WHY.
Trash. While your daughter is buying huge mansions in the uk
Are you well? When any sensible and objective person makes comparison of mahama and nana addo in terms of criticisms, Ghanaians have not done even a quarter to nana addo, yet anytime someone criticises nana addo his sympathizers get so intolerant. It's unbelievable! If you look at someone like barwumia and his wife, they heaped not only criticisms but insults on mahama. Have you forgotten the infamous ***barred word*** title? Why do we have so many hypocrites in this nation. Nana addo himself advise Ghanaians to be citizens not spectators, so why are his sympathizers and himself get worried when we become citizens to criticise him. Pathetic!
@kk. When did mahama do that. Why do you NPP goons always make up lies yo equalize you aging father's flaws.
AKUFO ADDO HAS FAILED BIG TIME. LET ME TELL AKUFO ADDO THAT FREE SHS WON'T WIN HIM VOTE IN 2020. IN FACT, I SEE HIM LOSING. HIS GOVT IS FADING OUT........NO CONSISTENCY IN COMMUNICATION, CORRUPTION, TOTAL CONFUSION.....NAAAAAAAA
@ Abass what is your problem? were you not in Ghana when Mahama took all his uncountable children and the wife to Dubai? What kind of useles$ and childish talk is this? Cant the president rest? Give us a break. Were we in heaven when ur mahama was in power? Yet he was able to take vacation. I find it worrying when a section of Ghanaians especially the NDC criticize anyhow even when the president goes to pee!!!! You guys make democracy too cheap! what kind of childish logic is this? Cant people travel in this country anymore?
TRUE!
Is gabby working for Ghana or he is just in the Flagstaff house a family member of nana addo. If not why should he accompany nana addo on vacation. Nana addo and his akyem abuakwa mafia are wasting our scarce resources when he told us he would be protecting our resources. It's amazing that the President will send all his family with him on vacation. If this was done when mahama was in power everyone in NPP would have been on demonstration especially occupy Ghana and the likes.