PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Ghana: National Economic Forum, Black Stars World Cup team sheet reported
Accra, Ghana (PANA) – A non-partisan economic forum that discussed challenges facing the Ghanaian economy and the provisional team sheet of the national football team, the Black Stars, for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil were some of the stories reported by the Ghanaian media this week.
“No MF agenda yet,” was the headline of the Graphic which quoted President John Dramani Mahama as saying in his opening speech at the National Economic Forum on Tuesday, which brought together some 140 people from all walks of life to have a through and dispassionate discussion and make recommendations for a turnaround.
The forum, which was on the theme, “Changing the Narrative: Building a National Consensus for Economic and Social Transformation”, was also aimed at transitioning the country to a higher and sustainable path of development and improving the quality of life of the people.
The main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) boycotted the forum describing it as a “PR gimmick” and claiming that the government had submitted a programme to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
But President Mahama stated in his speech that the government had not taken any decision to enter the country into an IMF programme.
He said what the government was concentrating on was the preparation of a home-grown strategy of fiscal consolidation, adding “It is our expectation that both our domestic and international partners will join us in the implementation of this strategy.”
“It is a tragedy of our very polluted and extremely partisan political environment that such a simple misunderstanding of the relevance of this innocuous document should become the basis for a major political player to stay away from this all-important national exercise,” he said in apparent reference to the NPP’s boycott of the forum.
He said it was time Ghanaians came to a common ground to agree on what should be the appropriate way to find sustainable solutions to the country’s developmental challenges.
The Graphic in another story under the headline, “Govt must intervene in currency market” quoted the Secretary-General of the TUC, Mr Kofi Asamoah, as urging the government to strategically intervene in the money market to bring down interest rates.
He said the ability of the government to adopt an innovative approach and work with the banks would bring down the cost of borrowing as a means of improving employment creation.
"We are not suggesting that the government control the banks", he said, adding that financial institutions in the country were making huge profits due to the high cost of borrowing.
“Govt to trim wage bill,” was the headline of another story in the Graphic which quoted the Finance Minister, Mr Seth Terkper, as saying the government had planned to trim the wage bill to 35 per cent of tax revenue ratio by 2017, from the current almost 60 per cent, in a bid to ensure fiscal prudence.
Other measures include a continuation of the net freeze on employment in sectors of the public service and the restructuring of the District Assemblies’ Common Fund (DACF) and other statutory funds to reduce rigidities in the budget and align them to priority programmes.
In 2013, the country experienced volatile prices for its major export commodities such as cocoa and gold, a development which resulted in a high deficit.
The fiscal performance also recorded an overall budget deficit estimated at 10.8 per cent, against a budget target of 9.0 per cent, following a deficit of 11.8 per cent in 2012.
The state-owned Ghanaian Times had the headline “Let’s break the cycle of economic instability – President urges stakeholders”. It said President Mahama charged participants to collectively find solutions to the vicious cycle of economic instability that confronted the country.
He said sustaining macro-economic stability had defied successive governments, citing instances where governments spent considerable time dealing with the challenge.
“Every government, for example, had succeeded, to various degrees, in attaining macroeconomic stability but as of now, none has been successful in finding a way to sustain it. Indeed, almost every government leaves office with a less-than-desirable macroeconomic situation...”
“Forum adopts ‘Senchi Consensus’” was the headline of the Graphic on the outcome of the forum.
It said the participants called on the state to, as a matter of urgency, continue to execute projects and programmes commenced by previous governments.
The 22-point communiqué said a long-term national interest superseded all other interests.
The participants underscored the need to foster a state whose day-to-day management was supported by a professionally competent Civil Service working in an environment devoid of political victimisation and intimidation and where support for the government was not interpreted as political affiliation.
It tasked the government to take steps to galvanise consensus around other issues of national importance, especially with respect to political governance, and initiate a process of involving citizens whose experience, insight and expertise would enhance economic policy management and national governance.
The newspaper, in another story under the headline “Prez: Outcome of Economic Forum, beginning of new day for Ghana”, reported that the President said the outcome of the National Economic Forum marked the beginning of a new day for Ghana. The day, he said, "is one that we are together shaping as n/ a nation".
5`n/ He said he was satisfied with the outcome of the forum as contained in the 'Senchi Con/ nsensus' and gave an assurance that the government would take steps to implement theb proposals reached in order to chart a path of progress for the nation.
"There must be no delays or distractions," he said.
“Gov’t to implement Senchi Consensus with dispatch” was the headline of the Ghanaian Times which reported that President Mahama pledged that the government would implement in a timely manner, the consensus reached at the National Economic Forum.
He said the government’s Economic Management team had been reinvigorated by the process and was ready to begin the immediate implementation of the proposals made by participants at the forum.
President Mahama said: “We will use a sense of urgency and optimism to fuel our actions as we move in the direction change.”
“Stars’ list out at last,” was the headline of the Graphic on the provisional team sheet of the Black Stars released by the coach, Kwasi Appiah, on Monday.
The newspaper said there were no major surprises, neither were there disappointments, when Black Stars head coach named his provisional 26-man squad for next month’s World Cup in Brazil.
It said all the players who featured in the team’s World Cup qualifiers last year were called up, with goalkeeper Stephen Adams as the only local player in the squad, which would eventually be pruned down to 23.
It said England-based Jeffrey Schlupp and David Accam, who plays in Sweden, were the only unfamiliar faces, even though their invitation came as little surprise to some followers of the game.
“Appiah selected the best,” was another headline in the newspaper.
It said the Ghana Football Association’s Technical Director, Francis Oti-Akenten, and former Black Stars striker, Augustine Arhinful, had lauded coach Appiah for players he had selected as his provisional squad for the 2014 World Cup.
While Oti-Akenten described it as a team selected with a lot of “technical and tactical consideration”, Arhinful described it as the “best available to Ghana at the moment”.
The two men, also members of the GFA Technical Committee, said instead of criticising the team, Ghanaians should lend their support to motivate the players to give their best when they eventually played at the World Cup.
Oti Akenten, said every player named deserved to be in the team as they had worked hard for both club and country.
"The presence of particularly, Jeffrey Schlupp should not come as a surprise to anyone as he has been consistent and his club.”
Arhinful also said he was particularly happy that Coach Appiah had chosen a fine blend of experienced and determined players.
"For me, the players chosen are the best we have now. I don't know anyone better who has been left out.”
-0- PANA MA/VAO 17May2014
“No MF agenda yet,” was the headline of the Graphic which quoted President John Dramani Mahama as saying in his opening speech at the National Economic Forum on Tuesday, which brought together some 140 people from all walks of life to have a through and dispassionate discussion and make recommendations for a turnaround.
The forum, which was on the theme, “Changing the Narrative: Building a National Consensus for Economic and Social Transformation”, was also aimed at transitioning the country to a higher and sustainable path of development and improving the quality of life of the people.
The main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) boycotted the forum describing it as a “PR gimmick” and claiming that the government had submitted a programme to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
But President Mahama stated in his speech that the government had not taken any decision to enter the country into an IMF programme.
He said what the government was concentrating on was the preparation of a home-grown strategy of fiscal consolidation, adding “It is our expectation that both our domestic and international partners will join us in the implementation of this strategy.”
“It is a tragedy of our very polluted and extremely partisan political environment that such a simple misunderstanding of the relevance of this innocuous document should become the basis for a major political player to stay away from this all-important national exercise,” he said in apparent reference to the NPP’s boycott of the forum.
He said it was time Ghanaians came to a common ground to agree on what should be the appropriate way to find sustainable solutions to the country’s developmental challenges.
The Graphic in another story under the headline, “Govt must intervene in currency market” quoted the Secretary-General of the TUC, Mr Kofi Asamoah, as urging the government to strategically intervene in the money market to bring down interest rates.
He said the ability of the government to adopt an innovative approach and work with the banks would bring down the cost of borrowing as a means of improving employment creation.
"We are not suggesting that the government control the banks", he said, adding that financial institutions in the country were making huge profits due to the high cost of borrowing.
“Govt to trim wage bill,” was the headline of another story in the Graphic which quoted the Finance Minister, Mr Seth Terkper, as saying the government had planned to trim the wage bill to 35 per cent of tax revenue ratio by 2017, from the current almost 60 per cent, in a bid to ensure fiscal prudence.
Other measures include a continuation of the net freeze on employment in sectors of the public service and the restructuring of the District Assemblies’ Common Fund (DACF) and other statutory funds to reduce rigidities in the budget and align them to priority programmes.
In 2013, the country experienced volatile prices for its major export commodities such as cocoa and gold, a development which resulted in a high deficit.
The fiscal performance also recorded an overall budget deficit estimated at 10.8 per cent, against a budget target of 9.0 per cent, following a deficit of 11.8 per cent in 2012.
The state-owned Ghanaian Times had the headline “Let’s break the cycle of economic instability – President urges stakeholders”. It said President Mahama charged participants to collectively find solutions to the vicious cycle of economic instability that confronted the country.
He said sustaining macro-economic stability had defied successive governments, citing instances where governments spent considerable time dealing with the challenge.
“Every government, for example, had succeeded, to various degrees, in attaining macroeconomic stability but as of now, none has been successful in finding a way to sustain it. Indeed, almost every government leaves office with a less-than-desirable macroeconomic situation...”
“Forum adopts ‘Senchi Consensus’” was the headline of the Graphic on the outcome of the forum.
It said the participants called on the state to, as a matter of urgency, continue to execute projects and programmes commenced by previous governments.
The 22-point communiqué said a long-term national interest superseded all other interests.
The participants underscored the need to foster a state whose day-to-day management was supported by a professionally competent Civil Service working in an environment devoid of political victimisation and intimidation and where support for the government was not interpreted as political affiliation.
It tasked the government to take steps to galvanise consensus around other issues of national importance, especially with respect to political governance, and initiate a process of involving citizens whose experience, insight and expertise would enhance economic policy management and national governance.
The newspaper, in another story under the headline “Prez: Outcome of Economic Forum, beginning of new day for Ghana”, reported that the President said the outcome of the National Economic Forum marked the beginning of a new day for Ghana. The day, he said, "is one that we are together shaping as n/ a nation".
5`n/ He said he was satisfied with the outcome of the forum as contained in the 'Senchi Con/ nsensus' and gave an assurance that the government would take steps to implement theb proposals reached in order to chart a path of progress for the nation.
"There must be no delays or distractions," he said.
“Gov’t to implement Senchi Consensus with dispatch” was the headline of the Ghanaian Times which reported that President Mahama pledged that the government would implement in a timely manner, the consensus reached at the National Economic Forum.
He said the government’s Economic Management team had been reinvigorated by the process and was ready to begin the immediate implementation of the proposals made by participants at the forum.
President Mahama said: “We will use a sense of urgency and optimism to fuel our actions as we move in the direction change.”
“Stars’ list out at last,” was the headline of the Graphic on the provisional team sheet of the Black Stars released by the coach, Kwasi Appiah, on Monday.
The newspaper said there were no major surprises, neither were there disappointments, when Black Stars head coach named his provisional 26-man squad for next month’s World Cup in Brazil.
It said all the players who featured in the team’s World Cup qualifiers last year were called up, with goalkeeper Stephen Adams as the only local player in the squad, which would eventually be pruned down to 23.
It said England-based Jeffrey Schlupp and David Accam, who plays in Sweden, were the only unfamiliar faces, even though their invitation came as little surprise to some followers of the game.
“Appiah selected the best,” was another headline in the newspaper.
It said the Ghana Football Association’s Technical Director, Francis Oti-Akenten, and former Black Stars striker, Augustine Arhinful, had lauded coach Appiah for players he had selected as his provisional squad for the 2014 World Cup.
While Oti-Akenten described it as a team selected with a lot of “technical and tactical consideration”, Arhinful described it as the “best available to Ghana at the moment”.
The two men, also members of the GFA Technical Committee, said instead of criticising the team, Ghanaians should lend their support to motivate the players to give their best when they eventually played at the World Cup.
Oti Akenten, said every player named deserved to be in the team as they had worked hard for both club and country.
"The presence of particularly, Jeffrey Schlupp should not come as a surprise to anyone as he has been consistent and his club.”
Arhinful also said he was particularly happy that Coach Appiah had chosen a fine blend of experienced and determined players.
"For me, the players chosen are the best we have now. I don't know anyone better who has been left out.”
-0- PANA MA/VAO 17May2014
