The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has outdoored its
plan for the infrastructure development of the country when elected in the
December 7 elections to form the next government. This includes the construction
of three new ports.Addressing a press conference at the party’s Asylum
Down national headquarters in Accra, Chairman of the party’s Infrastructure
Committee and Member of Parliament (MP) for Essikado Ketan in the Western
Region, Joe Ghartey indicated, “We shall construct two new harbours in James
Town and Keta and an inland port in Buipe,” he claimed, with a promise to make
the country’s ports and harbours more efficient and cheaper to use as the
processes would fully be automated to reduce time spent at the
ports.
Apart from that, he gave the assurance that an NPP government
would reduce port charges, continue the expansion of the Tema Harbour and extend
the Takoradi harbour to Sekondi with a logistics centre to be developed in
Sekondi.
“The Volta River will be developed into a major transportation
artery in conjunction with the private sector,” he articulated, saying modern
ferry ports would be developed at locations like Buipe, Yapei, Yeji, Makango,
Kwadwokurom, Kete-Krachi, Adowso, Ekyemanfrom, Akateng and
Boso.
Roads And Highways
“We shall systematically
tar gravel roads in areas of high population density, agricultural production
and tourism potential. We shall tar all cities and district capitals and
progressively tar all other major towns in Ghana,” he emphasized.
As part
of plans to end the nightmarish traffic congestion in the major cities and some
highways in the country, Mr Ghartey, who is also the second deputy speaker of
parliament asserted, “We shall widen major arterial roads into multi-lane
carriageways, construct lay-bys and dedicated traffic lanes for high occupancy
buses and construct by-passes and interchanges at major intersections such as
Point 7 in Tamale, Tema Motorway Roundabout, Suame Roundabout, Oforikrom
Intersection and Takoradi PTC Roundabout.”
The NPP has also promised to
improve and increase access to the public transportation
system.
Railways
According to the Infrastructure
Committee Chairman, a government of the NPP would completely overhaul the
railway sector, with a promise to revamp the Western and Eastern
lines.
“We shall also expand the railway network from Kumasi to Paga. We
shall build a Tema-Akosombo Rail Line and tie it in with a revived and expanded
Volta Lake Transport System. This opportunity to transport goods and people from
the South to the North and vice versa, through road, rail and water transport,
is a clear example of our integrated approach to transport infrastructure,” he
stated.
Aviation
Regarding the aviation sector,
Mr Joe Ghartey announced, “We will make our airports international and regional
hubs. We shall also increase domestic air travel as part of our integrated
transport system. We will achieve this through policies such as improving and
increasing our transport infrastructure generally, reducing the price of
aviation fuel and abolishing the 17.5 % VAT on domestic air fares, among
others.”
Water
Considering the fact that a large
number of Ghanaians still do not have access to potable water, he indicated,
“Under our ‘Water for All Agenda,’ we seek to ensure that every Ghanaian has
access to portable water.
“We shall, among others, sink at least 25,000
new bore holes and 300 small town water supply systems and upgrade antiquated
water supply systems in our towns and cities.”
Tackling
Flooding
The NPP said, “We cannot continue to have a knee jerk
reaction to perennial flooding in Accra and other parts of Ghana.”
In the
short term, the party intends to construct storm drains in Accra and other
cities to deal with the recurring devastating floods.
As a long term and
permanent solution, Joe Ghartey said the party plans to establish a National
Hydrological Authority.
“The Authority shall plan, develop, maintain,
protect and administer drainage and flood control measures. The Authority shall
be responsible for constant dredging and desilting of our drains and water ways
to ensure a free flow of water. This will bring an end to the ad hoc and
uncoordinated approach to perennial flooding. The Authority will also be
responsible for protecting our inland and sea coastlines from erosion,” he
maintained.
Mainstreaming ICT
The NPP has also
promised to put ICT at the centre of the national development agenda, with an
assurance to register every resident in Ghana within the first year under the
National Identification Scheme.
“We shall automate the process involved
in accessing public services at both the national and local government levels;
and we shall facilitate nationwide access to mobile networks. We shall develop
ICT Incubator Hubs in our regional capitals to create business opportunities in
the private sector,” said Chairman of the Infrastructure Committee.
Apart
from that the NPP would also support local ICT companies, among other measures,
with the intention of opening up the economy to create jobs and
wealth.
Affordable Housing
The party intends to
provide serviced land banks to real estate companies and individuals for
development, offer tax incentives to local real estate developers and producers
of building materials, abolish the 5% VAT on real estate sales and work with
identifiable groups such as the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Ghana National
Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers
(NAGRAT), farmer’s groups and others to facilitate the construction of homes for
their members through the provision of appropriate financing
guarantees.
Mr Joe Ghartey indicated, “We shall also promote and develop
the use of local materials in the construction of homes,” whiles facilitating
the development of an active mortgage market to expand access of mortgage loans
to Ghanaians. |
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