Govt has no intention of increasing fuel prices now

Akim Oda, Jan. 20, GNA - The government has no intention of increasing the price of petroleum products soon, a government's spokesman on economic affairs, Nana Ohene Ntow, said at a People's Assembly at Akim Oda on Tuesday.

He reiterated his appeal to organized labour clamouring for workers to decamp from the SSNIT pension scheme to CAP 30 to exercise restrain till the economy was put on sound footing. On the HIPC initiative, he said it had yielded benefits to the country, adding that about 1.14 trillion cedis, which would otherwise be used to service debts, were now being utilized to finance development projects.

Nana Ohene Ntow, who briefed the people on the state of the economy, recalled that when the Kufuor administration assumed office, the inflation rate was about 46 percent with interest rates at around 50 percent.

He said due to the government's "pragmatic efforts", the rate of inflation had come down to 27 percent while the interest rate dipped to 26 percent.

The Eastern Regional Minister, Dr Francis Osafo-Mensah, appealed to Ghanaians to support government's policies and programmes, saying "even though some of them may seem harsh at the moment, they are necessary to ensure a better tomorrow."

On the National Health Insurance Scheme, he urged all to embrace it and pay their premiums, saying it was not possible anywhere in the world for anyone to enjoy free medical treatment without having a health insurance policy.

Dr Osafo-Mensah said within three years of coming into power, the government had made remarkable improvements in the life of Ghanaians in the areas of education, water supply, good roads, health and sanitation. Earlier in his welcoming address, the Birim South District Chief Executive, Mr Yaw Amprofi, said it was because the NPP government had a tradition of promoting human rights and freedoms that it decided to institute the People's Assembly concept.

He said through this process of civic interactions, the government was building a "social capital" to further enhance democracy and development.
Mr Amprofi announced that since the HIPC initiative was introduced, the district had received a total amount of 1.750 billion cedis.

Akim Oda, Jan. 20, GNA - The government has no intention of increasing the price of petroleum products soon, a government's spokesman on economic affairs, Nana Ohene Ntow, said at a People's Assembly at Akim Oda on Tuesday.

He reiterated his appeal to organized labour clamouring for workers to decamp from the SSNIT pension scheme to CAP 30 to exercise restrain till the economy was put on sound footing. On the HIPC initiative, he said it had yielded benefits to the country, adding that about 1.14 trillion cedis, which would otherwise be used to service debts, were now being utilized to finance development projects.

Nana Ohene Ntow, who briefed the people on the state of the economy, recalled that when the Kufuor administration assumed office, the inflation rate was about 46 percent with interest rates at around 50 percent.

He said due to the government's "pragmatic efforts", the rate of inflation had come down to 27 percent while the interest rate dipped to 26 percent.

The Eastern Regional Minister, Dr Francis Osafo-Mensah, appealed to Ghanaians to support government's policies and programmes, saying "even though some of them may seem harsh at the moment, they are necessary to ensure a better tomorrow."

On the National Health Insurance Scheme, he urged all to embrace it and pay their premiums, saying it was not possible anywhere in the world for anyone to enjoy free medical treatment without having a health insurance policy.

Dr Osafo-Mensah said within three years of coming into power, the government had made remarkable improvements in the life of Ghanaians in the areas of education, water supply, good roads, health and sanitation. Earlier in his welcoming address, the Birim South District Chief Executive, Mr Yaw Amprofi, said it was because the NPP government had a tradition of promoting human rights and freedoms that it decided to institute the People's Assembly concept.

He said through this process of civic interactions, the government was building a "social capital" to further enhance democracy and development.
Mr Amprofi announced that since the HIPC initiative was introduced, the district had received a total amount of 1.750 billion cedis.