Gov't determined to restructure economy - J. H. Mensah

The Minister of Government Business and the Majority Leader in Parliament, Joseph Henry Mensah,says no amount of unnecessary criticisms would deter the government from its avowed aim to rebuild the country's economy.

He said government officials have not embarked on any pleasure trips as some people would want to portray adding that each had been made in the supreme interest of the state and aimed at ensuring the effective planning of the country's development.

Mr Mensah, Member of Parliament for Sunyani East, was addressing a rally organised by the constituency branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Brong Ahafo Regional capital.

The rally was to enable the NPP leadership to express its gratitude to the electorate for ensuring the party's victory in the 2000 elections. Mr Mensah said in line with the government's determination to re-shape the country's destiny, the twin policy of probity and accountability would be applied to all Ghanaians irrespective of status or position.

He predicted that voters in the Northern sector of the country would vote for the NPP in the 2004 elections because of the government's policy to continue with the Busia regime's rural development efforts. "The people in Upper West, Upper East and Northern regions, voted massively for other parties in the past and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party in the 1992 and 1996 elections and yet, that area remains the poorest in the country."

"We are determined to change this situation and let them truly enjoy the fruits of their labour as fellow Ghanaians."

Mr Mensah explained that the reconciliation policy was aimed at pacifying those Ghanaians who were wronged in the past by various regimes. "Fellow Ghanaians were humiliated under very horrifying circumstances and we are determined to ensure that these past experiences are pushed into oblivion through the reconciliation process."

The Minister enjoined gangs in the mass cocoa spraying exercise to do their work well and urged the youth of the country not to lose hope but to work assiduously for the country's success. "The government is working to give hope to the people and to ensure that continued peace prevails."

Paapa Owusu Ankomah, Minister of Youth and Sports, called on the youth to remain steadfast and support the government, as there were indications that the future was going to be bright for Ghana.

He said President John Agyekum Kufuor and the NPP have good plans for the youth, "because the priority now is the stabilisation of the economy to inspire confidence in investors to invest in the country".

The Minister announced an inter-ministerial committee that would see to employment generation in the country. "Very soon the skilled unemployed will be made to register to determine the profile of unemployment and under-employment in the country."

Mr Kwadwo Yeboah Fordjour, Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman of the party, explained that the adoption of the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative is in the best interest of Ghana.