PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Ghana: Economic issues, anniversary of President Mills’ death reported in Ghana media
Accra, Ghana (PANA) – The Ghanaian media this week highlighted economic issues, particularly the mid-year budget review by Finance Minister Seth Terkper, and the third anniversary of the death of President John Evans Atta Mills on 24 July 2012.
In a story with the headline, “Moves to reduce pressure on cedi and boost exports” the Graphic said the government outlined a number of measures to help reduce the pressure on the value of the cedi, the Ghanaian currency, while reducing excessive preference for imports.
The measures are also intended to transform the weak support mechanism for exporters.
It said, Mr. Terkper explained that the move formed part of measures aimed at changing “our structural and transformational approach”.
This comes at a time when the cedi is struggling to hold itself against the major foreign trading currencies, particularly the US dollar.
The main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) promptly dismissed the budget review saying the measures outlined were unrealistic.
In a story headlined “Government will plunge country into recession,” the Graphic reported that the minority in Parliament expressed pessimism about Ghana's economic outlook and said the measures being pursued by the government to solve the economic problems would rather plunge the country into recession.
The Minority Spokesperson on Finance, Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei, said the measures being pursued by the government, though positive in outlook, were not realistic because they did not address the fundamental challenges of the economy.
“We have a long way to go and the impression is being created that we are out of the woods. We should not be in a haste to make conclusions that the economy is on track because the outlook is shaky," he said during a press conference in Parliament House.
According to Dr. Akoto Osei, important indicators such as inflation and bank rates had all not seen reductions while the energy crisis had not been solved.
On the anniversary of President Mills’ death, the Graphic reported: “Parliament pays tribute to Prof. Mills,” and said that Members of Parliament eulogised the late President Mills, describing him as a modest and peaceful man who had good leadership qualities.
Contributing to a statement made by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for North Tongu, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to mark the third anniversary of Prof. Mills’s death, the MPs described him as a humble man who refused to be vindictive and sought to unite the country.
Mr Ablakwa described Prof. Mills as a man who had an amazing character and rare leadership qualities, adding that his legacy remained ever crucial to the nation's forward march.
“President Mills taught us that great leaders choose great successors, just as Elijah chose Elisha and Moses chose Joshua," he said.
Amid murmuring from the NPP MPs, Ablakwa said Prof. Mills left Ghana in the safe hands of President John Mahama to continue with his unfinished business.
The NPP MP for Effutu, Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin, acknowledged that Prof. Mills was a peaceful man who preached that in spite of political differences, Ghanaians were of the same stock.
He recalled that the entire nation was in a state of shock when Prof. Mills passed away and added that his death and what he stood for should unite the nation.
The media also highlighted the Third Annual Atta Mills Memorial Lecture delivered by Dr. Kayode Fayemi, former Governor of Ekiti State, Nigeria, who praised the outstanding professional and leadership qualities of the late President, saying he was “unmistakably a gentleman,” uniquely placed among his compatriots.
“It was his remarkable ability to stay calm and unruffled under pressure in addition to his other formidable gifts that set him on the path to national leadership,” he said.
-0- PANA MA/AR 24July2015
In a story with the headline, “Moves to reduce pressure on cedi and boost exports” the Graphic said the government outlined a number of measures to help reduce the pressure on the value of the cedi, the Ghanaian currency, while reducing excessive preference for imports.
The measures are also intended to transform the weak support mechanism for exporters.
It said, Mr. Terkper explained that the move formed part of measures aimed at changing “our structural and transformational approach”.
This comes at a time when the cedi is struggling to hold itself against the major foreign trading currencies, particularly the US dollar.
The main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) promptly dismissed the budget review saying the measures outlined were unrealistic.
In a story headlined “Government will plunge country into recession,” the Graphic reported that the minority in Parliament expressed pessimism about Ghana's economic outlook and said the measures being pursued by the government to solve the economic problems would rather plunge the country into recession.
The Minority Spokesperson on Finance, Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei, said the measures being pursued by the government, though positive in outlook, were not realistic because they did not address the fundamental challenges of the economy.
“We have a long way to go and the impression is being created that we are out of the woods. We should not be in a haste to make conclusions that the economy is on track because the outlook is shaky," he said during a press conference in Parliament House.
According to Dr. Akoto Osei, important indicators such as inflation and bank rates had all not seen reductions while the energy crisis had not been solved.
On the anniversary of President Mills’ death, the Graphic reported: “Parliament pays tribute to Prof. Mills,” and said that Members of Parliament eulogised the late President Mills, describing him as a modest and peaceful man who had good leadership qualities.
Contributing to a statement made by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for North Tongu, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to mark the third anniversary of Prof. Mills’s death, the MPs described him as a humble man who refused to be vindictive and sought to unite the country.
Mr Ablakwa described Prof. Mills as a man who had an amazing character and rare leadership qualities, adding that his legacy remained ever crucial to the nation's forward march.
“President Mills taught us that great leaders choose great successors, just as Elijah chose Elisha and Moses chose Joshua," he said.
Amid murmuring from the NPP MPs, Ablakwa said Prof. Mills left Ghana in the safe hands of President John Mahama to continue with his unfinished business.
The NPP MP for Effutu, Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin, acknowledged that Prof. Mills was a peaceful man who preached that in spite of political differences, Ghanaians were of the same stock.
He recalled that the entire nation was in a state of shock when Prof. Mills passed away and added that his death and what he stood for should unite the nation.
The media also highlighted the Third Annual Atta Mills Memorial Lecture delivered by Dr. Kayode Fayemi, former Governor of Ekiti State, Nigeria, who praised the outstanding professional and leadership qualities of the late President, saying he was “unmistakably a gentleman,” uniquely placed among his compatriots.
“It was his remarkable ability to stay calm and unruffled under pressure in addition to his other formidable gifts that set him on the path to national leadership,” he said.
-0- PANA MA/AR 24July2015
