We will implement 15-year tourism development plan – President
President John Dramani Mahama has said the next National Democratic Congress (NDC) government would implement a 15-year tourism development plan to make Ghana the tourism hub in West Africa.
The plan, he said, would sustain job creation in eco-tourism and health tourism in the country.
President Mahama said this when he presented highlights of the NDC 2016 manifesto slated for launch in Sunyani on Saturday, September 17.
The highlights were focused on four thematic areas of “putting people first, building a strong economy for job creation, expanding infrastructure for accelerated development and advancing transparent and accountable governance.
President Mahama said under the development plan, government would establish the Accra marine drive project, which would develop the areas from Osu Castle to the Arts Centre to create recreational facilities for both day and night life.
The President also announced a provident fund for aging artistes in the coming years to alleviate their poverty by providing them with monthly stipend at all times.
He said government would also develop the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park into a modern park like the Kumasi Rattray Park to make it attractive and useful to the development of children.
He said government would in partnership with the private sector also establish a film village that would encourage and promote Ghanaian film.
On industrialization, President Mahama said the establishment of the Export and Import Bank(EXIMBANK) would serve as the main anchor for the industrialization agenda of the next NDC government.
He said government would revamp most of the Kwame Nkrumah era factories and was currently carrying out feasibility studies to bring back those that could be viable in coming days.
The President said the Aboso Glass Factory is one of the projects his next administration would embark on to reduce the importation of glass products.
He said government would also in partnership with the private sector exploit the massive iron ore deposits in Oppon Manso, Sheini, Pudo and Kyebi to create sustainable jobs.
President Mahama said government would generate excess power to establish glass and bottling plants as well as rubber and ethanol processing factories.
The President said government would also establish a jeweller village and gold souk at Tepa in collaboration with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
Source: GNA