He said his administration was pursuing a new paradigm of economic development based on value-addition industrial activities.

President Akufo-Addo also noted that industry grew at 17.7 percent in what he described as “a radically marked improvement on its abysmal 2016 performance in the last year of the Mahama administration.”

“… As a result of the normalisation of the power situation in the country, and the implementation of government’s pro-business policies, I believe our objective of shifting the focus of our economy from taxation to production is bearing fruit.”

The President acknowledged that unless the country industrialises with the goal of adding value to our primary products, “we cannot create the necessary numbers of high-paying jobs that will enhance the living standards of the mass of our people. Raw material producing economies do not create prosperity for the masses. The way to ensuring access to prosperity is the industrial development of our economy.”

The factory, he was confident, will not only reduce the country’s ceramic tiles import bill, thus saving the country considerable sums of foreign exchange, but will also serve as a source of employment for many young men and women, resident in Shama.

The factory will be sourcing 95 percent of its raw materials locally and President urged the promoters of this project “to work towards increasing this figure to 100 percent.”

President Akufo-Addo also revealed that Ghana National Gas Company Limited (Ghana Gas) has responded favourably to the request of Twyford Ceramics Limited for a reduction of the price per unit gas supply to the company, and, indeed, to industries across the country.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The book titled “Doing our part for the community we aspire” is a 24 page book which suggests how traditional leaders can plan and develop their communities.

The book also outlines Nana Brekrom’s vision for innovation and sustainable development Assorku. He says his vision will be “to pursue an inclusive growth agenda in a manner that puts the people first and build respect for authority”.

At the launch of the book on Tuesday at Assorku, the chief of Essipong Nana Kofi Abuna V, who was the chairman of the event, implored traditional leaders to unite their people to foster development.

She stated that the book, which spells out the vision of Nana Brekrom II is a good step worthy of emulation.

“It is upon us to develop our communities to the level we aspire to see it. You as the chief would have to provide leadership role in this direction. You will face some troubles from people within your own circles. You must not be perturbed to do what is right for you people and country. Forge ahead, and avoid all maliciousness. Remain positive and ask God for direction. That way, you will win. Writing a book is indeed in its right direction if chiefs really want their legacy to go beyond themselves, to the one that will be told by generations after us. We must stay strong and forge to elevate the status of our community members,” Nana Kofi Abuna V admonished.

Among topics covered in the book are: “A look through my own eyes: my ten inspirations, the makeup of the community we aspire, the bits and parts to play, the time we must give ourselves, the new mindset, and what we stand to lose if we fail to develop”.

Guest speaker at the event, Prof Livingstone Kobina Sam-Amoah, who is the Provost of the College of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Cape Coast noted that, such steps by traditional leaders to write their vision helps to lay a path of prosperity for the community.

“It’s a step in the right direction which we will encourage our chiefs to emulate. It helps avoid disjointed courses of development for communities, and also deals with the loss of vision when one leader passes on to eternity. I am impressed with the step Nana Brekrom II has taken to follow the path of his predecessor, Nana Brekrom I”. Prof. Sa-Amoah observed.

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By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Mr. Lantey was forced to end the ceremony when some assembly members and fishermen in Shama alleged that some members of the committee were carpenters and masons who do not qualify to be on the committee.

This is the third time the ceremony has been called off. In all three instances, fisher folks in the district opposed the inclusion of some names on the inaugural list.

A scrutiny of the list cited by Citi News showed that, some of the names on the list are carpenters, masons, shop attendants, security personnel and other people who are not fisher folks.

Some of the agitating fishermen told Citi News that, “what will happen if a consignment of premix comes to us and it is adulterated, how will these people know, why is it that politicians want to destroy our livelihood?” they asked.

It was a charged atmosphere at the premises of the Shama District Assembly Hall on Thursday, June 29, 2017, as several police personnel wielding truncheons and guns were seen patrolling the entrance. Few meters away from the entrance were some fisher folks who were protesting.

Any person who tried to enter without accreditation was turned back. Journalists and other fisher folks who had participated in the earlier failed inaugural ceremonies were all denied entry.

Some people who were turned away complained bitterly that the request for accreditation has never happened before.

“We suspect foul play. Look at all these police men. Why, what is happening in Shama. If all is well, then why do we have all these police men here with guns and all these things,” they complained.

The Chairman of the Agriculture and Coastal Management Sub Committee of the Shama District Assembly, Isaiah Mensah, was also denied entry because he did not have an accreditation. After several minutes, the District Chief Executive, Joseph Amoah, came out to announce that the inauguration has been called off.

According to him, the ceremony was called off due to some disagreement over the list.

Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the National Premix Committee, Nii Lantey Bannerman, confirmed in an interview in Takoradi that the inauguration has been cancelled.

He confirmed that at one landing beach, the name of the Chief Fisherman was missing.

He explained that “what happened was that, while I was mentioning out the names on the list, one of the Chief Fishermen rose and objected to some of the names. According to the Chief Fisherman., some of the names I mentioned are not fisher folks and therefore the committee is in violation of the LI. So I asked him to point them out which he did. So obviously I couldn’t have inaugurated the committee. This is because I will then be violating the LI. The LI is very clear on the composition of the committee. I will not be the one change it”.

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By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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It would also scrap import duties on fishing inputs in order to make fishing materials more affordable.

Mr Ato Panford, the NPP parliamentary candidate for Shama Constituency, said this during a recent parliamentary candidates’ debate held on the theme: “Election 2016- Prioritizing Fisheries and Oil and Gas Governance Issues for Inclusive Development”.

The event was organized by the Centre for Democratic Development-Ghana and Friends of the Nation, in Shama.
The event, funded by OXFAM and Ghana Oil and Gas Inclusive for Growth (GOGIG), also provided a platform for the parliamentary candidates to present their party key manifesto commitments on fisheries, the oil and gas sector.

The NPP candidate said an NPP government would strengthen and enforce the Fisheries Act 2002 (Act 625) and establish a coastal guard unit that would collaborate with the Ghana Navy, to protect the country’s territorial waters from illegal fishing practices.

An NPP government, he said, would also establish a Coastal Development Fund to support fishermen through the provision of alternative livelihood programmes that would make them financially-independent and self-sustainable.
Mr Panford said the NPP government would also ensure transparency in the distribution of the premix fuel, adding that more sale points of the commodity would be established.

Mr Gabriel Kodwo Essilfie, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate and incumbent Member of Parliament for the area, said the NDC government considers the fishing sector as a very critical industry.

He said some social interventions the NDC government had undertaken to improve the sector include the distribution of more than 2,000 subsidised outboard motors to fishermen, the expansion of the Bosumtwi-Sam Fishing Harbour which would enable large fishing vessels to berth.

He said the government under President John Mahama has ensured transparency in the distribution of premix fuel, introduced the fishermen’s insurance programme and would soon complete the construction of a Fisheries College at Anomabo in the Central Region.

Dr Papa Essuman, the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) parliamentary candidate, said the party would establish factories that would use fisheries resources and their by-products to produce animal feeds, glue, soap and would create more jobs for the people.

He said a PPP government would allocate a special quota of the petroleum revenue to the Region for developmental projects because the inhabitants of the region would suffer most in the event of any disaster from the oilfield.

Earlier, Mr Mohammed Mohammed Nasiru, a Consultant of the CDD-Ghana, said the election was about the choice of a political party with the best ideas, policies and programmes that would enhance the livelihoods of the citizenry and it must be done devoid of insults and acrimony.

He urged the supporters of the participating political parties in this year’s polls to desist from any act of violence and personality attacks and rather focus on issues that would enhance the living conditions of the people.

The members of the public were given the opportunity to ask the parliamentary candidates questions bothering on youth unemployment, lack of transparency and accountability in the sale of the premix fuel, scholarship for fishermen’s children, among others.

The debate was moderated by Mr Solomon Kusi Ampofo, the Programme Coordinator of the Friends of the Nation.

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Source: GNA

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