PNC outdoors manifesto

THE People’s National Convention (PNC) has put it before Ghanaians what it called its blueprint for the development of the country when it is given the mandate to rule the nation.
According to the party, its concept dubbed: “Growth Poles and Urban Renewal” describes one of the several approaches to solving the three inter-connected problems of the country.
Announcing this at a press conference in Accra, Dr Edward Mahama, the Presidential aspirant of the party, said the move would forestall the three inter-connected problems of the country.
They are rural-urban migration, environmental and sanitation degradation as well as making Ghana the gateway to West Africa.
He said the manifesto of the party was ready for publication and launching, “we have decided to start discussing it with the good people of Ghana through the media.”
He said a PNC government would select certain communities with potential across the country and develop them as model towns, as Dr Kwame Nkrumah did with the development of the Tema township and the Tema Harbour.
That, Dr Mahama said, would be replicated to such towns as Nyinahin, which had huge bauxite deposits; Ejura-Atebubu, with the potential for agro-based industry; Yeji and Buipe as river ports, while Aflao, Bawku and Paga would be developed as commercial centres for made-in-Ghana goods.
He explained that such selected towns would be provided with first class schools, hospitals, affordable housing, electricity and water to make them attractive and, therefore, halt the migration of the youth from such areas to towns.
He said professionals, including teachers and health workers “would find these towns very conformable to live in and bring up their children rather than hassle in big cities like Accra or Kumasi”.
Regarding urban renewal, Dr Mahama said it was geared towards restoring the nation’s capital cities, especially Accra and Kumasi to their formal ecological state according to their inherent strengths and weaknesses.
He cited, for instance, “with Kumasi, it would be restored to its former state as the Garden City or Garden of Eden with enough greening, while Cape Coast would also be reconditioned, taking into consideration its historical importance.
“Kumasi must be decorated with state-of-the-art infrastructure, modern buildings and drainage systems, an industrial village and well-designed cultural sites because of the great history that it bears,” the PNC flag bearer added.
Dr Mahama said a PNC government would facilitate the completion of the inland ports and ensure that all regional capitals had their fair share of development.