The Ministry of Monitoring and Evaluation has organized its 2020 Results Fair to create the platforms for ministries, departments and agencies to provide the public with the results of policies and interventions that they have spearheaded.
The various Ministries, Departments and Agencies exhibited their results for the public to visit and ask questions about all initiated programs. The Minister of Transport, Kweku Ofori Asiamah, said considering the significance of the port and shipping industry to global commerce and Ghana’s national economic development, investments have been made not only to expand Ghana's ports, but the introduction of policies like the paperless clearance system has increased efficiency in doing business at the country’s ports.
“Initially, we had some few challenges. When we assumed office, the minimum hours that anybody could clear goods at the port was not less than 100 hours. Today, if you can pay your duties, you can clear your goods in less than 24hrs at Tema Port,” he stated.
The Minister of Trade, Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, said his Ministry is embarking on an aggressive industrial transformational plan.
And so far, the 1D1F program has seen 58 companies already operating under its establishment, 26 projects to start in the 1st quarter of 2020, and 58 smaller scale manufacturing facilities being financed by the African Development Bank.
“These 58 small scale plants deliberately are being established to be owned by groups of graduates. The Government is providing a minimum amount of 200,000 US dollars for each of these youth groups to start something which they can develop on their own,” he revealed.
The Greater Kumasi Industrial city, which according to him would cover a 5000-acre multipurpose economic zone will incorporate the Boankra inland port to serve the hinterlands.
Joe Ghartey, Minister of Railway Development revealed that, progress has been made towards the construction of modern rail line that would connect Tema and Burkina Faso, and according to him, when the project is completed, it would serve the transit business route.
‘We are going to the last stage and hopefully within the first quarter, we would have chosen the contractor who will partner Ghana and Burkina, for construction to start within the third quarter of this year,” he said.
The President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo, stated that the results fair, is a demonstration of the Government’s commitment to inclusivity and accountability.
“Not only does the Result Fair serve as a medium for opening engagement and interaction between ministries and the Ghanaian people but it also provides an avenue for the receipt of first time information and feedback about the success or otherwise of our programs,” he stated.