PNC to review major State policies in 2013

The People's National Convention (PNC) has said it has identified six major policies which a government under Mr. Hassan Abdulai Ayariga, their presidential candidate for Election 2012, would review to accelerate national development in 2013.

The policies to be reviewed include the curricula of education from the basic to the tertiary level, information, communication and technology, capitation grant, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the fishing laws.

A PNC government will also review the formula for allocating the District Assemblies' Common Fund to ensure deprived districts receive more as compared to endowed Metropolitan and Municipal Areas.

He said a PNC government in 2013 would set up a system to evaluate the impact of the capitation grant, Ghana School Feeding Programme, free text books, exercise books and school uniforms for basic education access and quality.

Mr. Ayariga, who outlined the reviews at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) Evening Encounter with Election 2012 Presidential Candidates, said a government of the PNC would put in place measures to motivate teachers.

He said a PNC government would allocate funds and create a mechanism to give salary top-ups and accommodation facilities to teachers who work in deprived areas.

It will also aim at equipping teachers with new improved ways of instruction to make teaching and learning more useful, meaningful and effective as well as introduce entrepreneurial studies in schools.

Mr. Ayariga said a PNC government would promote specialisation in ICT in Colleges of Education and set up resource centres in each circuit at the basic level.

Other policy issues Mr. Ayariga outlined included empowerment of the youth and women; to decentralise the management of the capitation grant to District Assemblies and retirement packages for the aged.

Brigadier-General Francis Agyemfra (rtd), IEA Visiting Senior Fellow, described the encounter as “fruitful and interesting”.

Election 2012 Peace Ambassador, eight-year-old Angela Mensah asked Mr. Ayariga “How the PNC intends to enforce the laws on child's right and get children out of the streets”.

Brig Gen. Agyemfra explained that the encounter for flagbearers with representation in Parliament through Ghana Political Parties Platform served as a crucial, political tool for the flagbearers and political parties to market their plans on key policy issues.

He said it also serves as a huge campaign platform for the four political parties without cost.

Brig-Gen Agyemfra said the flag bearers were at liberty to decide on which issues to speak on, adding that topics might include the economy, security, illicit drug trade and youth development and there is no restriction on which issues the flagbearers could speak on.**