Free SHS, 1D1F, PF&J have all been implemented with well-being of Ghanaians at heart – Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said that his goal, since coming into office, in 2017 has been to help improve the living standards of the Ghanaian people.

To that end, he said programmes such as the Free Senior High School, One District One Factory and the Planting for Foods and Jobs initiatives have all been implemented to bring relief to Ghanaians.

Mr Akufo-Addo said these when he delivered an address at the opening of the 12th Biennial and 50th Golden Conference of the Methodist Church of Ghana on Thursday August 18.

“Every policy initiative, whether it is the Free Senior High School policy, the programme for Planting for Food and Jobs or the One-District-One-Factory initiative, has been implemented with the well-being of the Ghanaian at heart,” he said.

He further noted, however, that, before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghana had one of the fastest growing economies not just in Africa, but across the world.

“However, the ravages of the pandemic, worsened by the effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have led to spiraling freight charges, rising fuel costs, high food prices, steep inflationary spikes and widespread business failures. I am fully aware that these are very difficult times for us in Ghana, just as they are for most people in the world, cold comfort as that may be,” he said.

One of the ways towards bringing the economy back on track, the President said, is the approach to the International Monetary Fund, which he described as an important step.

“Other steps will be taken, in particular, to deal with the unacceptable depreciation of the cedi. Reining in inflation, by bringing down food prices, is a major preoccupation of the Government, and this season’s emerging, successful harvest will assist us achieve this objective, together with other policies that are being put in place,” he added.