The trip of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to Spain to attend the “Focus Africa 2023” Conference, being held in Madrid and the firm indication of a take off by the Akufo-Addo government to implement its second term vision after the approval of its first second term budget are some of the trending stories in the Ghanaian press on Monday.
The Graphic reports that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Sunday left Accra on for Spain to attend the “Focus Africa 2023” Conference, being held in Madrid.
Focus Africa 2023, an in-person Conference, defines Spanish foreign action in Africa until 2023, and forms part of the Spanish Foreign Action Strategy 2021-2024.
It includes the specific actions the Spanish Government intends to take with key stakeholders in Africa, including Ghana, and it is aligned with the realisation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s 2063 Agenda.
The President was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, and officials of the Presidency and Foreign Ministry.
The President will return to Ghana on Tuesday and in his absence, the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, shall, in accordance with Article 60(8) of the Constitution, act in his stead.
The newspaper says that the Minister of Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has expressed the desire of the government to nurture and sustain a long-term partnership with Tullow Oil Ltd.
Dr Prempeh, who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia South, stated this during a virtual meeting with the Chief Executive of Tullow Oil, Mr Rahul Dhir.
In attendance were the Managing Director of Tullow Ghana Ltd, Mr Wissam Al-Monthiry, and other leading executives of the company in Ghana.
The purpose of the meeting was to enable the company to formally welcome the minister to the energy sector and to formally brief him on the operations of the company in Ghana, their strategic direction for 2021 and beyond and a number of legal and other challenges.
Dr. Prempeh stressed that the government believed in the right of individuals and entities to invest and enjoy their profits.
He noted that at a time when oil prospects in the country were considered bleak, companies such as Tullow and Kosmos were prepared to undertake exploration in the country because they believed it was worth it.
Dr. Prempeh recognised the company’s support for the education sector, particularly with respect to infrastructure and science, technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.
The Graphic also reports that Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has given a firm indication of a take off by the Akufo-Addo government to implement its second term vision after the approval of its first second term budget.
Parliament last week approved the 2021 Budget and the House is expected to finalise the appropriation bill on Monday to pave way for the government to take off.
As he stated government’s eagerness to start implementing its second term programmes, Vice President Bawumia, who is also head of government’s economic management team, has also outlined major first-term accomplishments of the Akufo-Addo government.
“Dear Friends, as we look forward to the implementation of the 2021 budget in our second term, it is important that we take note of the accomplishments of the Nana Akufo-Addo government in our first term after inheriting an economy in crisis. Here are some:,” Dr. Bawumia wrote on Facebook on Sunday.
He then went on to list all the major first term accomplishments in different sectors.
On macroeconomic management, Dr. Bawumia stated the reduction of inflation from 15.4 percent in 2016 to 10.4 percent at the end of 2020, reduction of average lending rates from 32 percent in 2016 to 21 percent in 2020, lowest average exchange rate depreciation for any first term government since 1992 at 7.3 percent, increased internal reserves $6.1b in 2016 to 68.7b in 2020, upgraded sovereign credit rating from B- to B, among other economic gains.
In other sectors, the Vice President also listed massive industrialisation success under 1D1F, increased food production through Planting for Food and Jobs, introduction of pension scheme for cocoa farmers, about 550,000 public employment opportunities, which included doctors, teachers, nurses, other health workers and police officers.
The Times says that the Ministry of Communications and Digitisation has reiterated the government’s commitment to bridging the digital divide in the country through mechanisms that will make particularly, rural dwellers benefit from the fourth industrial revolution.
Mrs. Magdalene Apenteng, Chief Director at the Ministry, disclosed this when she contributed to a discussion on the role of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the United Nations (UN) virtual World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) held on Wednesday.
Speaking at the forum, Mrs. Apenteng said that, to bridge the gap which currently exists among rural and urban dwellers regarding access to internet, reliable and affordable data a number of measures have been put in place including the introduction of the Rural Telephony and Digital Inclusion Project.
“The project which was commissioned at Atwereboana in the Adansi South District, in the Ashanti Region in November last year by the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was aimed at providing e-connectivity for over 3.4 million citizens in rural communities,” she said.
According to her, the government, through the Ministry had introduced a school connect project to facilitate access to the internet, adding that, “this project makes information available to students and teachers to enhance learning.”
About 411 schools in rural communities across the country have so far been connected, while there have been construction of community ICT centres.
GIK/APA