We Have Fulfilled 50%Of Our Electoral Promises - NPP

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has said in spite of the huge economic decay inherited by the government, it had modestly fulfilled 50 per cent of its electoral promises in its first year in office.

"The prudent economic management of government had lead to steady gains in most sectors of the economy, which is commendable of a new government," Mr Kwadwo Afari, the NPP Press Secretary, told newsmen in Accra on the party's assessment of the government's first year in office.

He said the government inherited an economic situation where key indicators showed a very fragile economy characterized by high inflation, mounting domestic and external debt, excessive money growth and a weak currency.

Mr Afari said the government within the short period in office stabilized the macro-economic fundamentals, without which no sustainable economic take-off could be possible.

He explained that the cedi was stable because it depreciated by only 2.5 per cent in the year compared with 37.6 per cent for the same period in 2000.

Others areas were the continuing reduction in the rate of inflation from 41 per cent at the beginning of the year to 25.6 per cent at the end of October, 2001 and keeping expenditures under control of 82 per cent of target.

He said the government kept its domestic borrowing under control and restructured the domestic debt from short-term to medium-term Government of Ghana Indexed Linked Bond of over three trillion cedis.

These initiatives, Mr Afari said, had brought a measure of stability in the economy and presented opportunities and challenges to the business community.

He said the government had also fulfilled its promise to farmers and the agriculture sector in general by paying over 70 billion cedis as bonus to cocoa farmers for the 2000/2001 main crop season, increasing the producer price of cocoa by 35 per cent and undertaking a mass spraying exercise.

The Press Secretary stated that although the promises made cover the four-year term of the government, indicators over the first 12 months were positive signs for total delivery.

Mr Afari said the repeal of the criminal libel law, fight against corruption, peace and security enjoyed by all sections of society, and the general sense of freedom were all manifestations of the electoral promises that had been fulfilled within 12 months.

He said the government's foreign policy of good neighbourliness had improved the country's image among the comity of nations leading to numerous invitations to the government for bilateral discussions on the economy.

"These are all manifestations of a government in firm control of state machinery within 12 months of assumption of power."

On the health sector, Mr Afari said the party's position and promise was that it would review the cash and carry policy, adding that the government had initiated measures for the introduction of a national health insurance scheme.

Mr Afari said government machinery had enforced the policy of free medical care for children and the aged, which was not properly implemented in the past.

The Press Secretary said another major achievement over the period was the transparent and the all-inclusive government. "Never in the history of the country has a government appointed non-party members into the central system of operations without the option of crossing carpet," Mr Afari said.