Mahama touts ‘enviable’ achievements

President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday touted the achievements made by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government since they took over the administration of the nation in 2009.

The president touched on sectors including education, health, water and sanitation, security, transportation and energy.

President John Dramani Mahama was addressing the nation in an event dubbed “Accounting to the People.”

The programme was held at the Banquet Hall- State House in Accra.

Education

On education, President John Mahama said about 1,616 projects have been constructed for basic schools in the country.

He said because of such projects, most schools in Accra have abolished the shift system of education.

He said government among other things also distributed free textbooks and exercise books to school children as well as uniforms, shoes and sandals for school kids.

President Mahama also said some boarding schools will be enrolled unto the Progressive free SHS programme.

Health

The health sector according to President Mahama is one of the sectors  government has invested heavily in.

He disclosed that government is transforming the Ridge hospital to become the Greater Accra Regional hospital.

He said as part of efforts to facilitate the process, government is currently building a 640-bed capacity facility for the Ridge Hospital.

NHIS hasn’t collpased

He also refuted claims that the NHIS programme has collapsed.

Housing

On housing the President said government is constructing about 5,000 housing units at Saglami near Prampram in the Greater Accra region.

Water and Sanitation President Mahama explained that about 76 percent of Ghanaians have access to clean water. He cited the Teshie desalination project and other water projects executed by the government as contributing to such succcess. Transportation He added that an intracity buses system will be commissioned soon to serve Ghanaians in urban areas. “Soon you will be seeing them on the roads. Its an e-card facility. We have to become and e-society and reduce the use of cash,” he added. He also sad a new Sekondi train station is almost completed which will be commissioned. He said government has also upgraded the Kumasi airport adding that work on the Tamale airport is also progressing in earnest saying work on its runway will be completed soon. Power President Mahama said his government is still committed  to solving the electricity challenges the nation is facing. This according to him will ensure that successive governments do not suffer pressures that comes with such crisis. He said the NDC government has connected about 2,861 communities to the national grid in the last three years. He added that due to works done by the government, about 76% of Ghanaians have been connected to the power grid.