Highlights of State of the Nation Address

Accra, Jan. 31, GNA - The following are the highlights of the State of the Nation address President John Agyekum Kufuor delivered to Parliament on Tuesday.

- Government aims at 8.0 per cent GDP growth rate on sustained basis

- Government to diversify and broaden the micro-economy base

- Resuscitation of VALCO is first step towards establishment of a vertically integrated aluminium industry

- The nation is rid of crushing debt following 100 per cent cancellation of various bilateral and multilateral debts of about seven billion dollars over two years

- Major world-class companies investing in the country

- Access to Millennium Challenge Account will come on stream
- Gas from West Africa Gas Pipeline expected to be available in December 2006
- Government t grant study leave to teachers at pre-tertiary level on quota system
- Students Loan Trust has been established with disbursement to commence in 2006/07 academic year
- Venture Capital Fund operationalised
- Export Development Fund continues to offer support to businesses
- The Micro-loan scheme is in place
- Over 250,000 jobs created over the past two years
- Affordable residential accommodation projects have started
- Promotion of wider coverage of National Health Insurance Scheme
- APRM exposed strong and weak points
- Ghana is 10th happiest country in the world
- Uncomplimentary stories on website drive away potential investors
- Government to go ahead with Representation of the People's Amendment Bill
- Media should report allegations of corruption against Ggovernment officials to the Police not the presidency
- Government to go ahead construction of befitting presidency from Indian loan