President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to equitable national development, assuring the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs that progress made so far will be sustained and expanded.
Speaking during a courtesy call by the delegation, the President said his administration is focused on spreading development evenly across the country while strengthening the economy.
“We are meeting all our debt obligations. Inflation is down. The currency has appreciated in value and we have a relatively stable macroeconomic environment,” he stated.
“The economy is more resilient and is withstanding external shocks, we are reaching important milestones and we remain focused.”
The President also disclosed ongoing efforts to operationalize the University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences (UEAS) at Bunso, describing it as a key step toward boosting education and local economic development in the region.
Economic Gains and Fiscal Discipline
President Mahama noted that the country’s improved economic outlook is partly driven by renewed investor confidence following policy reforms since he assumed office.
“After a successful completion of the IMF bailout, we intend to maintain the strict fiscal discipline that has resulted in the stabilization of the macroeconomic environment,” he added.
Despite these gains, he acknowledged that unemployment particularly among the youth remains a major concern.
“Government alone cannot absorb the numbers, so we need to invest in the private sector to industrialize, and in areas like agriculture to absorb the unemployed,” he explained.
Local Development and Healthcare Expansion
Touching on decentralization, the President highlighted the impact of uncapping the District Assemblies Common Fund, which allows Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to retain up to 80 percent of their allocations.
He said this would enable local authorities to invest in initiatives such as 24-hour economy markets to drive grassroots economic growth.
President Mahama also outlined recent interventions in the health sector, including the rollout of free primary healthcare, expansion of facilities, and the establishment of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, also known as “MahamaCares.”
Eastern Regional Projects
On infrastructure, the President assured chiefs that the stalled Eastern Regional Hospital project would be completed.
“The Eastern Regional Hospital stalled a bit and I have asked that the contractor go back to the site.
We will pay him so that we can complete the project,” he said, adding that three new hospital projects would soon commence in newly created regions.
Chiefs Commend Government Efforts
Responding on behalf of the delegation, Nene Sakite II, President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, commended the government for ongoing development efforts in the region.
“I would like to indicate that we are taking note of the work being done around us in the Region. And for that, we are greatly appreciative,” he said. “We are hoping that work will continue till the end.”
He expressed optimism that continued engagement between traditional authorities and government would strengthen collaboration and advance shared development goals.
The meeting was attended by Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang and other senior government officials.
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
