By Bertha Demah
President John Dramani Mahama has affirmed that the 10 billion dollars ‘Big Push’ initiative is designed to modernize the country’s infrastructure, stimulate local industries, and create thousands of new jobs for unemployed Ghanaians.
“The U.S. dollar 10 billion big push initiative will also modernize our infrastructure, it will create jobs, it will stimulate local industry, ensuring that our development is driven from within rather than funded from outside,” he stated.
Addressing Ghanaians, yesterday, at the 68th Independence Day celebration at the Jubilee House in Accra, President Mahama emphasized the initiative would serve as a catalyst for sustainable development, steering the nation towards self-reliance.
Again, President Mahama indicated that Agriculture remained the biggest opportunity to reduce import dependence. “With over two billion dollars spent annually on food imports, the Agriculture for Economic Transformation agenda is structured to strengthen local agribusiness and ensure food security” he underscored
President John Dramani Mahama further outlined some bold new vision for Ghana’s agricultural sector, with the announcement of the creation of Farmer Service Centres in every district in the country.
These centres, he intimated, would provide critical access to mechanization services, quality seeds, and fertilizers, to support local food production and ensure that Ghana could meet its own food needs while strengthening its agricultural foundation.
“Farmer service centres in every district will provide access to mechanization services, quality seeds, and fertilizer to boost local food production,” he stated.
President Mahama further called on the youth to actively participate in building a self-sufficient economy, urging the younger generation to take full advantage of the growth opportunities being created, that, “Young Ghanaians must step up to the plate, seize these opportunities, and help shape the future of our country. The economic future of Ghana is in your hands.”
More so, the President highlighted the importance of strengthening Ghana’s constitutional framework to ensure continued political stability and democratic growth.
Reflecting on the achievements of the 1992 Constitution, which has provided the longest period of constitutional democracy in the country’s history, the president acknowledged that, like any enduring legal system, the Constitution has its flaws and loopholes that must be addressed.
President Mahama applauded the efforts of past administrations, including the late president John Evans Atta Mills’ initiation of the constitutional review process in 2010 and the subsequent review undertaken by the government of former president Akufo-Addo.
“As we continue to evolve as a nation, it is crucial that we revisit and refine our Constitution to keep pace with the changes in our society and the world,” President Mahama stated.
