President Akufo-Addo exchanging pleasantries with Togbe Afede
The President of the National House of Chiefs Togbe Afede has urged President Akufo-Addo to be firm in order to effect his desired changes in the country.
He is also counseling the President to be bold enough to reject excuses that do not advance his change agenda.
“We are happy about your agriculture, industry, and infrastructure driven economic growth agenda. We believe that investing in our infrastructure will not only provide the necessary jobs but will also bridge the infrastructure gap and lay the right foundation for the desired development of the country. We believe in your one district, one factory initiative, we believe in your planting for food and jobs programme.
“It is very sad that Ghana is importing palm oil from Malaysia and has imported as many as 230,000 tonnes within the first nine months of this year alone and we are projected to import 300,000 metric tonnes by the end of the year from Malaysia, a country that depended on Ghana for the development of its palm oil sector,” the paramount chief told the President at an ongoing National House of chiefs meeting in Kumasi.
He continued “Your excellency you need to be very firm in fomenting the change that is required. You will be confronted with many excuses among others; though government deposits have been used as collaterals for lending, no serious businessman provides cash collaterals for lending or borrowing. The education is that government resources are earning so little yet government is paying so much on its borrowing. You need a bold action on this; that is no tolerant for many excuses”.
Meanwhile, allowances paid to Chiefs and queen mothers have been increased by 100% by the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government.
Making the announcement on Monday, the President said the increment is in line with a 2016 manifesto pledge.
“The allowances for Paramount Chiefs and Queen Mothers of the National and Regional Houses of Chiefs have been increased by 100%, and payments by Government are up to date. As I speak, the 4th Quarter allowances are being processed. Quarterly budgetary support to traditional councils and houses of chiefs has also been increased by nearly 60%,” he added.
