President John Dramani Mahama has expressed confidence in the country’s economic rebound under his administration, describing the economy as resilient enough to withstand external shocks despite global uncertainties.
He emphasised that the economy remained stable and well-positioned to absorb the impact of international tensions, including the Israel-United States war against Iran, stating that he was absolutely confident it would endure such external pressures.
President Mahama made the remarks when he performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a 24-hour economy model market at the Dormaa-Ahenkro Tuesday Market in the Bono Region.
Regional tour and project inspections
The President is in the region as part of the ‘Regional Accountability Series’ and is expected to address a durbar of chiefs and people of Bono, as well as inspect ongoing GETFund educational projects.
He will also assess the progress of key road infrastructure projects, including the Jinijini-Sampa Road and the Sunyani Outer Ring Road.
Economic gains highlighted
President Mahama noted that macroeconomic stability had improved significantly, citing a sharp decline in inflation from 23.4 per cent to 3.3 per cent.
He added that the Ghana cedi had strengthened from between GH¢16 and GH¢17 to about GH¢10.70 against the US dollar.
He stressed that sustaining these gains was crucial to safeguarding the economy against future shocks.
“Without a resilient economy, any external shock will have severe consequences, and it’s therefore important that we sustain the gains made over the past year”, he stated.
Traditional authority commends government
The Paramount Chief of the Dormaa Traditional Area, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyemang Badu II, commended the government for what he described as sound economic management, particularly improvements in the foreign exchange regime.
“I know you have been in office for just over a year now, but you have done well, especially with the forex situation, and Ghanaians appreciate that”, Osagyefo Badu II, who is also the President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, noted.
He also praised the government’s “Big Push” road infrastructure programme, citing visible progress on several projects across the region and the country.
Osagyefo Badu II said the government deserved praised for the construction of road projects like Sunyani Outer Ring Road, the Berekum-Sampa Road, the Berekum-Seikwa Road, the Sunyani-Abesim dualisation project as well as Wamfie-Gambia Road and Dormaa-Nkrankwanta Road.
Call for completion of stalled projects
Despite the commendation, the paramount chief urged the government to expedite work on stalled projects, including the Dormaa-Ahenkro-Aboabo Road under the cocoa roads programme, which began in 2013.
He also appealed for the rehabilitation of the 12-kilometre Dormaa-Ahenkro-Gonokrom Road linking Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, noting that while the Ivorian side is in good condition, the Ghanaian stretch remains deplorable.
Additionally, he called for the resumption and completion of the Agenda 111 District Hospital project at Amasu and other parts of the country initiated by the previous administration.
He further appealed for expanded infrastructure at both the main campus of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) and its Dormaa-Ahenkro campus.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh