ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSPORTATION WILL BE MY LEGACY-PREZ MAHAMA

Today, Wednesday January 7, marks exactly two years of the administration of President John Dramani Mahama since his installation as the head of state of Ghana after the 2012 presidential elections.

 As part of activities to commemorate the day, the President has granted media interview at the Flagstaff House in Accra to explain certain policy decisions, projects and programmes aimed at improving the socio-economic development of the country. 

President Mahama disclosed in an interview with a Kumasi-based radio station, Angel FM that funds have been secured while a contract is also already in Parliament for the reconstruction of the Kumasi Central Market. 

President Mahama stated clearly that his legacy will be in the energy and transportation sectors where substantial investment is being made.

According to him, the sod will be cut for actual work to start on the project in the first quarter of this year to modernize the market which he noted is one of the busiest markets in West Africa. 

President Mahama disclosed also that the design has also been completed awaiting funding from the Japan government for the start of the first phase of the Kumasi arterial roads that seek to significantly reduce the volume of traffic in the Kumasi metropolis for easy human and vehicular movement. 

On the Capitation of the National Health Insurance Scheme in the Ashanti region, President Mahama emphasized that the project has been beneficial as indicated in the report of the Technical Committee evaluating the pilot project, saying that the policy is scheduled to be extended to the Upper West, Brong Ahafo and Volta regions this year. 

He therefore dispelled claims that the programme is detrimental to the health of the people and sustenance of the NHIS in the region. 

Touching on other important national projects, the President made it known also that the contractor working on the Suhum-Apedwa portion of the Kumasi-Accra highway has now moved to site to complete the single carriageway toreduce the difficulties motorists and commuters. 

He said the cost of the project which is being borne by the government of Ghana is very huge hence the delay and hoped that very soon, some of the bottle necks are being address. 

President Mahama dispelled claims that there is nothing to show for the huge loans accessed by the government since assuming the presidency.

 He mentioned the expansion of the Takoradi and Accra sea ports, construction of hospitals, water supply projects, schools among other social projects as evidence of the loans procured.

 On the agitations of the public about the fuel prices, President Mahama was hopeful that as the prices of crude oil keeps reducing on the world market, the National Petroleum Authority would reconsider reducing ex-pump prices of the petroleum commodities on the Ghanaian market. 

He suggested however that a hedging mechanism would be found to mitigate the likely future price hikes of the commodity on the global market on the ordinary citizen.