As promised, here is a copy of the President Atta Mills' third State of the Nation Address - "Raising Ghana to the Next Level" - which was delivered earlier on today (17th February 2011). It is rather lengthy, so instead of posting the whole speech I'll highlight a few key areas (education, youth and - after the jump - corruption). If you want to see a copy of the full text, click here.
Here's what he had to say on education:
Madam Speaker, this year, we will further intensify our commitment to free exercise books, free school uniforms and turn more schools under trees into brick and mortar classroom blocks.
We will also expand the Capitation Grant as well as the School Feeding Programme support.
The latter program has been restructured in such a way that the development partners which earlier pulled out on account of poor financial and procurement audit reports are considering resuming their financial support for the programme
Government will continue to provide incentives and motivation packages for teachers, especially those in deprived areas.
Madam Speaker, in the coordinated programme of economic and social development policies I referred to earlier, we have noted the rate at which the computerized placement mechanism is blocking access to second cycle education by pupils from basic schools in the catchment areas.
It has therefore been decided that from the 2011-12 academic year, the policy of selecting 30% of first year students from within 10-mile radius of where schools are situated will be restored.
Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Environment Science and Technology has already begun distributing computer notebooks to brilliant but needy science students.
In line with Government’s vision to expand ICT infrastructure development, this Administration has also put in place a Tertiary Institutions Internal Access Programme (TIIAP) of institutions to benefit from a discounted laptop scheme.
The first batch of beneficiaries of the Mathematics, Science and Technology Scholarship Scheme as promised in our manifesto will be awarded scholarships before the end of March.
The scheme covers needy but brilliant science biased students in second cycle and tertiary level institutions.
Madam Speaker, Government will continue to support the expansion of especially tertiary education including those in the private sector but will not allow a mushrooming of institutions without the appropriate accreditation.
As you are aware I have already cut the sod for work to begin on the promised two additional public universities in the Volta and Brong Ahafo Regions.
Madam Speaker, the sod-cutting for the commencement of works on the construction of the University of Health and Allied Sciences in the Volta Region, as well as the University of Energy and Natural Resources in the Brong Ahafo Region, is ample testimony to our commitment to breathe life into our manifesto pledges.
Here's what he had to say on the youth:
...The Youth and Sports Ministry is being tasked to collaborate with the GFA and private stakeholders to rebuild colts football as a base for the growth of Ghana’s football.
Other sporting disciplines will also be used as rallying points to harness the potential of the youth.
Madam Speaker, we are going make an effort to reorient the psyche of our youth towards what we consider to be Ghanaian values – especially on the issue of moral consciousness.
The Ministry of Education will be working in conjunction with the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture as well as the relevant state and private entities to reinforce Arts and Culture Festivals in second cycle institutions.
Also, Choral Festivals will be organized from the district to the national level.
The idea is to have a National Festival of Arts, Culture and Choral Music championed by the youth to reignite their sense of belonging.
Here's what he had to say on corruption:
Madam Speaker, one governance issue that will forever remain close to my heart, is the fight against corruption.
As a way of strengthening institutions of state for the fight against corruption and provide the needed teeth to bite, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has been re-engineered and named the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) with prosecutorial powers.
About a fortnight ago, Ghanaians watched a shocking expose of corrupt activities and practices involving revenue collection at the Tema Port.
Last year, there was a similar expose on cocoa smuggling along the country’s borders.
I expect the Ghana Revenue Authority to relentlessly pursue people who fail to, or, under-declare incomes simply to avoid paying taxes because the principle of equity demands that the burden of tax should be shared among all citizens.
I also expect the management of the Ghana Revenue Authority and Customs Excise and Preventive Services (CEPS) for that matter to act without delay to restore public confidence in the organization.
Madam Speaker, In respect of the Ghana Standards Board and Food and Drugs Board, I expect them to collaborate to stop the dumping of sub-standard goods on the Ghanaian market.
Madam Speaker, I am also concerned about reports from the Auditor-General of lack of co-operation by some government departments.
Accordingly, I have directed the Auditor-General to invoke the letter and spirit of Act 584 on the withholding of salaries and other emoluments and privileges to persons who fail to heed queries from the Auditor General’s Department.
Madam Speaker, we will continue to cooperate with civil society and anti-corruption agencies to continue to wage a concerted war against corruption.
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