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His
Excellency President J.A. Kufuor presents
his administration’s priorities
Newly elected government affirms: “The private
sector
has come to power in Ghana”
On January 7th of this year, John Agyekum Kufuor of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was inaugurated as Ghana's first democratically-elected President since the
The
peaceful transition of power was celebrated in Ghana and hailed as exemplary
throughout the world, especially by the country's regional neighbors
who vowed to support and collaborate with the new leader. On that memorable
day, the NPP stopped being the opposition; and for the party - and Kufuor
himself, who served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs during Dr.
Kofi Busia's 1969-1972 administration - it had indeed been a long time
in coming.
His Excellency President John Agyekum Kufuor during his hundred-day address to members of the local and international press |
The
new president vowed to combat corruption and poverty, which he considers
Ghana's greatest enemy. He rallied around him a group of highly trained,
experienced and bold ministers and advisors with backgrounds in the
private sector who embrace a hands-on approach and possess a keen awareness
of the tremendous responsibility that now lay in their hands. The platform
for President Kufuor's administration was unequivocally established
as pro-business, with the development of a stable and productive environment
where people can succeed as the primordial objective. In his inaugural
speech, he stated clearly that "Ghana is open for business,"
sending a clear message to the international business community about
his government's openness and the vital role that the private sector
can play in the nation's development.
A
few days after delivering the first hundred-day address in Ghana's history,
President J.A. Kufuor - an engaging and mild-mannered trained lawyer,
and husband and father of five - graciously shared his thoughts with
The Washington Times on a number of key issues pertaining to the goals
and priorities of his administration.
On
establishing policy to make Ghana's “golden age
of business” a reality
"We
believe that we should arrange our macro-economy in such a way as to
provide an enabling and empowering atmosphere for the private sector
andentrepreneurial people to come and invest. Domestic borrowing by
governmentshould be reduced so as to create the room for the private
sector to accessmoney. With government cutting back, we expect the rate
of inflation to comedown - currently it's hovering around 40 percent,
we are trying by the end of the year to bring it to 25 percent, and
into next year to bring it further down to a single digit. With it,
the interest rate would also come down from around 48 percent currently,
so that the private sector can go forward."
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Useful e-Contacts: Homecoming Summit 2001: www.homecoming.com.gh Ghana Investment Promotion Council: www.gipc.org.gh Ghana Export Promotion Council: www.gepc.org.gh Embassy of Ghana, Washington, D.C.: www.ghana-embassy.org Information on AGOA: www.agoa.gov |
"Within
the legal framework, we want to set up clear laws to respect private
property and to allow dividends to flow back to owners easily, and also
to insure that law and order is firmly on the ground, justice dispensed
fairly and freely to all. Also, government will come up with promotional
support of the private sector through venture capital development, so
that people with bright, realizable ideas can have access to money in
fair terms to invest.
Agriculture,
which should enjoy pride of place in development, should also be supported
heavily. Farmers will be able to avail themselves of extension services
advice, leasing of equipment, credit. We want our small growers to be
able to access all the benefits that come with modern commercial farming.
And of course, we want to lay down the infrastructure very well, with roads, irrigational services, etc. - then, the marketing aspect would be supported mostly by private companies."
"These
are some of the things we want to do to enable the private sector to
grow, because we believe that the private sector should spearhead development."
On
Ghana vis-à-vis global trends
"Since we acknowledge that competition has become the order of
the day, we need to know what strengths we can have within the global
village, and quickly develop these strengths. Since our era is one of
science and technology, we have to look critically at education. Ghanaians
learn fast; they are very adaptable, and can master IT. Also, government
should support the private sector into joint ventures with international
partners who would bring in not only capital, but also know-how and
markets. So, in a way, we want to create Ghana as a platform for ventures
from all over to come. And I talk of the enabling, friendly atmosphere
where these companies can come use our relatively cheaper - but smart
- labor force. In this regard, we want to take full advantage of the
Africa Growth and Opportunity Act [AGOA] of the United States."
On bilateral relations with the United States
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Capital:
Accra |
"The
U.S., as seen from Ghana's perspective, is the first partner to have,
and so far, the relations between our two countries have been glorious:
[They have been] very productive for us both on the economic front,
the diplomatic front, the racial front - through our African-American
cousins - and the educational front, with so many Ghanaians pursuing
their studies over there. I believe the government there has been supportive
of us.
There's
been a congressional visit, and some very powerful men of influence
have called on me, all assuring us of their support when we take the
right steps, which we have taken. So we are looking forward to a very
productive and mutually beneficial relationship with the United States."
On
his vision for the new Ghana
"My vision for Ghana is that of a prosperous, enlightened, self-aware nation in the context of the globe and of the times... [Of] very well educated and healthy people; people who appreciate themselves as citizens with rights, and human beings by which governments justify themselves" - because the raison-d’être for a government should be the well-being of its people.
His Majesty, the King of Asante of Ghana visits the U. S. Ghana's ‘Asantehene’ promotes harmonious and fruitful bilateral relations
With
its mining wealth and nearly twenty percent of the country's overall
population, Ghana's Asante region (pronounced and sometimes spelled
'Ashanti') is a notable tourism destination for Americans who want to
experience the region's rich culture and living historical legacy -
as by definition, the chronicle of gold in Ghana is inextricably entwined
with that of the Asante people.
Ebow Hanson, Graphic Communications Group Enjoying a pleasant exchange during the Asantehene's official visit to the Presidential Castle |
The reigning leader of the people of Asante has traveled to the U.S. to pursue development opportunities for Ghana in general, and Asante in particular. In an unprecedented visit, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, King of the Asante Kingdom of Ghana, is currently touring several U.S. cities and states, upon the request and invitation of a number of mayors and governors, to promote mutual exchange, investments and goodwill.
The
significance of this visit is tied to that of the monarch himself. A
direct descendent of the first King of Asante, Osei Tutu II, the fifty-one-year-old
Asantehene (as he is referred to) is heir to the six hundred-year-old
Asante dynasty.
Who
are the Asantes? Five centuries ago, the Akan people of Southern Ghana
were spread among approximately forty independent chief-led tribal states,
of which Asante was the mightiest and most populated. As the need for
power and territorial hegemony grew - in order to exploit the region's
plentiful gold and newly-developed agrarian resources - the Asantes
progressively absorbed many neighboring states and were, by the dawn
of the eighteenth century, the only unified Akan state in their region.
Under the leadership of Osei Tutu I and his successor Opoku Ware, and
with the allegiance of all the conquered chiefs and sub-chiefs, Asante
further expanded its dominion, and reached a population close to three
million, while building a prosperous, sophisticated industrial economy.
The mighty reign of the Asante kingdom ended in1874, when colonial British
forces overpowered its capital, Kumasi.
His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II greets Congressman J.C. Watts, Jr. (Rep.,OK) on the grounds of the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi |
Today,
the allegiance of all Akan chiefs is still with the Asantehene, which
literally means Paramount Chief. Moreover, the tremendous historical,
cultural and industrial contributions of this kingdom have made modern-day
Asantehenes venerable figures whose role and significance are recognized
and respected by all Ghanaians.
Highlights
of the King’s planned itinerary included a White House meeting
with members of the Bush administration, as well as an engagement with
the Congressional Black Caucus. He is also meeting with a number of
political, business and community leaders as well as educators in New
York City, Newark, NJ, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Savannah, and
Pontiac, MI, which has a twin-city relationship with Kumasi. His agenda
includes the exploration of possibilities for direct partnerships with
U.S. investors, the promotion of tourism and heritage preservation,
and the mobilization of strategic efforts toward sustainable development
for both Asante and Ghana. The Asantehene is also exploring ways in
which Ghana and the U.S. can effectively build on the new opportunities
created by the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Another goal
of his mission is the creation of linkages with Africans in the Diaspora.
This
trip takes place on the heels of a recent visit to Ghana by a seven-member
U.S. Congressional delegation led by Republican Congressman J.C. Watts,
Jr. of Oklahoma. In recognition of the Asantehene's invaluable position,
both as a traditional ruler and as a conduit for growth and change,
the congressional delegation, joined by a number of American business
people, traveled to the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi as part of their official
visit. Congressman Watts, who chairs the House Republican Conference,
commended the Asantehene on the role he has taken for the betterment
of his people, and expressed personal satisfaction about the dialogue
established during the trip.
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In
addition, having also met with President Kufuor in Accra earlier that
day, Congressman Watts stated with great emphasis, "It is important
that America stand behind this new president." The Asantehene in
turn expressed the hope that, upon the delegation's return to the U.S.,
Congress would help pave the way for more exchanges between the two
countries; then, not mincing words, he added that it is not enough to
simply congratulate Ghana on its peace and democracy. "What Ghana
looks to the United States for," he said, "is to provide us
with assistance for our private sector, who in turn will assist our
nation in its development." Such steadfast focus on business issues
stems from the fact that Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, born Barima Kwaku Duah,
was once an entrepreneur and trained in accountancy, human resources
development and public administration in the United Kingdom.
Since April 26, 1999, when he assumed the role of Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, II has taken a hands-on approach to his mission as a traditional and civic leader in the advancement of his people. Two examples of this are the establishment of the Otumfuo Education Fund, set up to garner resources for the improvement of opportunities for quality education, from primary to vocational levels; and the Osei Tutu II International Foundation, a non-profit, charitable organization, whose purpose is to identify and preserve the cultural heritage of his kingdom, as well as promote his basic health care plan.
The Asantehene has also been collaborating with Ghana's new president - who is himself from the Asante region - in promoting an atmosphere that will help spring Ghana forward in its economic and social development process. In March he paid an official visit to the Presidential Castle, where President J.A. Kufuor thanked him for his support and contributions, and called on Ghana's traditional rulers to play a helpful role in the vast and challenging task that lays ahead for the new government. The President also congratulated him on the invitation he had received to be a special attendee at the April 2 International Cocoa and Coffee Organization Conference in the United Kingdom.