Always for people

Always for Development

 FOREWORD by the Leader of NDC, President J.J. Rawlings

 INTRODUCTION The National Democratic Congress........ 9

People and Development...................... 10

Decentralization for Development ......... 10

Accountability ..................................... 11

Human Rights ..................................... 12

Women On The Move ............................. 13

A New Political Culture ........................... 14

ECONOMY Economic Discipline .............................. 16

Encouraging Investment ......................... 17

Balanced Development ............................ 18

Trade and Industry .................................. 20

The Agricultural Basis ............................ 21

Food Security ........................................... 23

Cocoa ..................................................... 23

Our Forests ............................................... 24

Our Mineral Wealth ................................ 26

Energy for Growth ................................... 27

Tourism ..................................................... 30

THE SOCIAL CONTRACT Employment and Labour ......................... 32

Social Security .......................................... 34

A Healthy People .................................... 34

Education For All ..................................... 37

Housing Our Families .............................. 40

Water .......................................................... 41

Transport and Communication ............... 43

Roads .......................................................... 44

Urban Planning and Development

Strategy ...................................................... 46

Land Tenure .............................................. 46

Population Policy ..................................... 47

The Environment ...................................... 48

The Media .................................................. 48

MIND BODY AND SPIRIT Arts and Culture ........................................ 50

Religion ....................................................... 50

Sports and Recreation ............................... 51

Youth ........................................................... 52

SECURITY Defence ....................................................... 53

Law and Order ............................................ 54

Justice ........................................................... 55

GHANA AND THE WORLD Africa .............................................................. 57

Pan Africanism ............................................ 57

South-South Commitment ............................. 57

Our Role As World Citizens ........................ 58

CONCLUSION ...................................................................... 59

By the Leader of the NDC

In 1992, the National Democratic Congress invited you to vote for UNITY, STABILITY and DEVELOPMENT.

 We set out in our first manifesto the principles which the NDC stands for and what we hoped to achieve when voted into power.

 Four years later, as our first term of office draws to a close, it is time to make a frank appraisal of what has been done, what gains have been achieved and what must be done to make our vision for the future a reality, to enable the electorate of this country make objective and informed choices in the coming elections.

Our platform remains a commitment to our principles of fair development throughout Ghana, with especial attention to disadvantaged areas and deprived sections of society. As we said in our 1992 manifesto, this commitment does not mean blind repetition of the same policies and programmes, but an orderly evolution of policies, anchored to our principles yet sensitive to the objective conditions of present domestic and global realities.

 The NDC continues to stand for UNITY, STABILITY and DEVELOPMENT.

 Unity and stability have been maintained, even in the face of extreme provocation and despite outbursts of unjustifiable violence, through tolerance, firmness and commitment to the Constitution.

 The evidence of ongoing development is there for you to see.

 We have all witnessed the atempts by some sections of the opposition to disturb the democratic process. Their withdrawal from the 1992 Parliamentary elections was not only to save themselves from a more humiliating defeat but also a betrayal of their supporters's right to political representation. having chosen to withdraw from an active role in governance, their energies have been directed towards destructive fabrications to undermine all that we respect and cherish, and outright and often abusive condemnation of everything which the NDC has achieved.

 We believe that as you read this Manifesto you will be convinced of the need for us to go forward in unity and stability to complete our development programmes, rather than vote for change merely for the sake of change.

 We ask you to read it, verify it from the evidence of what has happened in your locality, consider it well, and make your decision.

 As you do this, we ask you to also recapture and build upon the positive enthusiasm and dedication which fuelled the PNDC's revolutionary struggle for improved welfare for all, and which has carried us so far from the dark days of disintegration which our nation experienced through the 1970s and early 1980s.

We must ask ourselves whether we have allowed the flame of revolutionary struggle for social justice and law and order to burn low over the years. We certainly do not want to relive the violence which accompanied those crisis years, but we should renew the spirit of voluntarism and service which shone through that difficult time.

 It is all too easy to busy ourselves with the economic opportunities which have been opened by the policies and programmes of the NDC, and leave the task of governance, which should involve each one of us, to the organs established by the Constitution and the office-holders who occupy positions in Cabinet, Parliament, in the Districts and Regions, on the various Commissions and other constitutional bodies.

 It is time for everyone to get involved once more, with the same sense of urgency and commitment which carried us through the darkest days.

 We have re-emerged as a proud, vibrant and respected member of the community of nations, but this is not a time to sit back complacently. It is rather a challenge to renew that sense of individual involvement, responsibility and initiative which is the very bedrock of the NDC.

 Now is your opportunity to help the NDC to consolidate all the gains we have made, so that each man, woman and child can fully benefit from the opportunities opening before us.

 Let us all gather under the proud shade of the Akatamanso and move forward together.

 Vote NDC.

 Vote for UNITY, STABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT

J.J. RAWLINGS

 INTRODUCTION

 THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS

 For the benefit of the young men and women who have attained the voting age since 1992, we repeat what we said in our previous 1992 Manifesto.

 Our party is NATIONAL because it knows no regional, ethnic or religious boundaries but encompasses all Ghanaians who are united in the conviction that the only way to a peaceful and prosperous future is to build upon the achievements of the past fifteen years.

 Our party is DEMOCRATIC because it has its origins in the grassroots participation and the involvement of the ordinary citizens in the responsibility of decision making at the local and national levels.

 Our party is a CONGRESS because it is the coming together of groups and individuals from diverse backgrounds and political philosophies who share a common determination to build a stable, just and democratic society, and who all believe that the principle of development through the united participation of all Ghanaians remains the foundation of our national democratic programme.

 We are principled pragmatists. We have carried out programmes which work and which produce results, and we have the will to continue and develop what has been started. Our first term's record of solid achievements is good enough today; give us the mandate to make it better even tomorrow.

Development must arise from the involvement of the people. There must be structures and channels of communication through which the people can voice their needs and determine their own priorities, and actively participate in planning, implementing and monitoring development projects.

When development is handed out by those in control of the national resources, and passively accepted by the disadvantaged and under-privileged, our towns and villages may acquire a few new structures and facilities, but the people become passive recipients rather than creative initiators and agents of development.

The surge in community initiative all over our country and the pride that has accompanied it in recent years has been a result of popular involvement, and the NDC will guarantee the opportunity for every citizen to proudly and confidently participate in local and national decision-making and development.

 In our first term of office, the NDC passed several new laws on local government to ensure that the process of decentralization and popular participation gathered momentum.

 We expanded local government financing and resource mobilization by activating the District Assemblies Common Fund according to the requirements of the Constitution, and established monitoring mechanisms to ensure the efficient utilization of this new source of revenue.

 Each Assembly can today bear witness to what the Common Fund has achieved inits area.

The new decentralized planning system, which involves popular participation in setting priorities and providing the means to implement them, will ensure the economic empowerment of communities.

The NDC's strategy for the next four years is to consolidate what has been achieved with the District Assemblies, and take decision-making even further down to technical, management and professional personnel in each District to ensure that the will of the people is effectively translated into positive action.

Decentralization should not be an end in itself. It must be a means to an end. That end must be development for all, and especially for the least advantage who are prepared to work for a better quality of life.

In our 1992 Manifesto, we stated, "We must all be accountable to the greater good of society by performing our civic duties and obligations and by respecting the rights and dignity of others".

We also said, "The Government under the Fourth Republic must be accountable to the Constitution, as must every individual Ghanaian".

We of the NDC will continue to live up to this standard.

We repeat what we said in 1992: that the most basic human rights are the necessities of existence - food, shelter, education, medical care, work and the opportunity to live and develop in peace and dignity.

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice has been established as we pledged. So far, it has ten Regional and twenty-eight District Offices functioning. Its independence from governmental interference has been clearly demonstrated, even in circumstances which, during previous regimes, would have been unimaginable.

The NDC has also respected the decision of the Courts on matters relating to human rights, unlike some previous constitutional regimes.

Sadly, some elements have, over the past four years, forgotten or ignored the fact that rights cannot be separated from responsibilities. They have exercised their rights to the limits of the letter of the law, and sometimes beyond, without the necessary and complementary sense of responsiblity towards society at large. We have seen this in some sections of the private media, in purposeless and destructive demonstrations, in land, chieftaincy, ethnic and religious conflicts.

The NDC has shown extreme tolerance. At the same time, our government has done its utmost to firmly and fairly maintain law or order under all manner of circumstances.

However, experience has shown that it is always the innocent bystander who suffers from the abuse of constitutional freedoms. The next NDC government will re-examine government's duty to prevent such suffering, instead of coming in to restore order after the harm has been done.

An atmosphere of security and respect for the individual depends not on government alone, but on all of us. Therefore all must be made to respect this principle, and not use it for their own ends.

In the 1992 Manifesto, the NDC declared its confidence in women as partners in national development and its support for the empowerment of women.

In the international meetings leading to the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing in September, 1995 as well as at the Conference itself, Ghana representatives demonstrated their competence and commitment to issues affecting women worldwide.

At the same time, and with the full support of the NDC Government, Ghanaian women orgnaized through the 31 December Women's Movement and the Women's Wing of the Party among several other women's organizations continued to pursue practical measures at home to address such as maternal and child health, family planning, day care centres, the education of the girl child, rural development, income-generating ventures, and the participation of women in community, District and national affairs.

The NDC Government has already accepted in principle the NCWD's post-Beijing report, which recommends affirmation action to speed up the implementation of measures to raise the status of women and promote their participation in decision-making at all levels.

Among these measures will be steps to increase the number of women appointed to government posts, committees, boards and other positions, and to promote more women candidates to stand for elective post.

Women are also being encouraged to compete in areas hitherto considered the exclusive preserves of men.

Measures already taken to promote the education of girls, such as the holding of special science clincs, and the pilot project to provide incentives for girls to stay in school at least through JSS, will be extended and promoted.

A desk will be established within the Office of the President to handle issues relating to women, whilst all relevant Ministries and institutions will be charged to ensure that due attention is given to all aspects of their work affecting women and girls.

The NDC will continue to uphold and defend the rights of women and will pursue affirmative action until men and women can stand side-by-side as equal partners in progress.

A NEW POLITICAL CULTURE

In our 1992 Manifesto we expressed the hope that a new culture of stable political institutions and friendly competition to guide a common National Agenda would evolve with the broad participation of all sectors of our society.

The boycott of Parliament by some political parties destroyed that hope.

We have witnessed a disturbing resurgence of the old style of confrontational politics, both between and within political parties, where the aim is not the common good of our people but the narow interests of individuals and groups.

The NDC rejects this style of yesterday's politics, and reiterates its commitment to good and participatory government for the benefit of all our people and for the stable development of our nation.

Over the last four years, the NDC has worked to deepen prospects for self-sustaining economic growth. To achieve this we have continued to invest in social and economic infrastructure, and have pursued appropriate fiscal, monetary, legal and other measures to generate the takeoff of a vibrant national economy.

We have been true to what we said in our 1992 manifesto "Creating a receptive and coherent climate for privat foreign and domestic investment will be a national priority".

This is now recognized worldwide.

Ghana's economy is growing. The evidence is all around us. This growth has been made possible by the single-mindedness of our leadership not to subordinate the management of the economy to any other consideration and also by the sacrifices of ordinary Ghanaians who have postponed current consumption in order to finance the investments needed to create the capacity for future growth.

But there is mounting pressure to relax the discipline. If we do, the process of regeneration and growth may be prolonged unduly or even be brought to a premature halt.

Almost half of total Government spending is utilized to pay salaries and meet other wage-related expenditute. Very little is left to cater for other needs. For example, the proper maintenance of Government facilities and the expansion of infrastructure would require a reduction of the share of wages in the budget. This would create excessive unemployment or reduce the levels of wages paid to workers.

The NDC Government will seek to create a balance betweent he needs of Government employees and rural dwellers; between the public and private sectors and above all between the needs of current and future generations.

The NDC re-dedicates itself to a determined fight against inflation by means of appropriate fiscal and monetary measures on the one hand, and efforts to boost production, particularly of food and other agricultural products and industrial goods, ont he other hand. Prudent fiscal measures will ensure further reductions in corporate and individual tax burden whilst the monetary policy will aim at non-inflationary credit creation.

The reduction in the rate inflation will not only bring down interest rates, particularly lending rates, to tolerable levels and cushion the exchange rate of the Cedi, but also provide the guarantee for continued deregulation of prices and the liberalization of domestic and foreign trade.

It is also the aim of the NDC to improve upon the measures that encourage savings, to streamline formal and informal channels of mobilization of savings and to make it possible for financial institutions to provide cheaper credit to the business community, especially long-term lending to local business through appropriate guarantee schemes.

ENCOURAGING INVESTMENT

The President and the Leader of the NDC has made an unprecedented personal effort over the past few years to promote Ghana's investment opportunities in the USA, Europe and the Far East.

Private domestic investment has also seen unprecedented growth. many thousands of ordinary Ghanaians are now owners of shares divested by government. Large and small scale enterprises have sprung up. Many existing industries have expanded and rehabilitated their plant and equipment.

In the next four years, the NDC Government will intensify its policies to attract foreign direct investment into the Ghanaian economy as a means of accelerating the acquisition of modern production technology, expanding and diversifying the production base of the economy, and thereby creating an internationally-competitive economy.

The NDC will intensify its investment promotion activities that will create employment as well as achieve a more stable, predictable and transparent legal regime that assures private-sector investors security, growth and profitability.

Legislation must not inhibit the private sector but must act as a positive encouragement to initiative and innovation.

The NDC has been true to its commitment to bring development to every corner of the country, and has programmes already in place to ensure that communities which are still awaiting the benefits of balanced development will soon have them.

Some of these programmes will be implemented even before the elections. The NDC needs your mandate to press ahead with those programmes which extend into 1997 and also those set out in Vision 2020.

Government's success over the past decade in improving access to basic social services and in releasing the entrepreneurial potentials of the people through deregulating the economy, freeing farm prices and promoting income-generation activities especially among the rural women and the disabled, has resulted in a reduction in the level and extent of poverty among Ghanaians.

The NDC is determined to lead the way in pulling Ghana as rapidly as possible out of the claws of underdevelopment and poverty into the ranks of the better-off middle-income countries of the world within the contest of the national development vision as expressed in Ghana - Vision 2020.

The main vehicle for achieving the national development vision under an NDC Government will be a strategy of broad-based growth. This strategy will ensure that economic growth is generated in the sectors of the economy that allows as many Ghanaians as possible to participate in productive activities and the creation of national wealth. In this way, many Ghanaians can benefit adequately from the wealth which is generated.

Consequently, in the next four years, an NDC Government will pursue policies of accelerated rural development through increased and sustainable agricultural production and marketing and micro and small-scale enterprise (MSE) development as means of creating employment and achieving poverty reduction, especially among rural communities. Special attention will be given to the deprived areas of the country which have not benefited much from the past development efforts due to inaccessibility.

In 1992 we promised to bring Trade and Industry together under one Ministry. This has been done, and the Ministry has framed policies to liberalize trade, abolish all licencing of imports and exports and encouraging new enterprises.

 Non-traditional exports have more than doubled since 1992, stimulated by financial and technical and improved sea and air cargo facilities.

 The new Investment Promotion Act and the reorganised Investment Promotion Centre, backed by vigorious promotion at home and abroad, have attracted many new or expanded enterprises.

 A Private Enterprise Foundation has been established and assisted to create a forum for large private business and industrial interests. A Business Assistance Fund has been set up for large scale businesses, whilst small and medium scale enterprises have been provided with training, credit, inputs and other assistance.

 Having already laid the foundations for the "Gateway" concept, making Ghana the place to do business and gain access to the economies of West Africa, an NDC government will work towards its early realization.

 With the Passage of the Free Zone Act by the First Parliament of the Fourth Republic, free trade zones, free ports and open sky policies are being implemented to bring more investment, more exports and more jobs.

Agriculture remains the basis of Ghana's economy, and the welfare of our farmers and fishermen and the rural areas where they live and work remains a priority concern of the NDC.

Overall agricultural production has continued to grow steadily over the past four years at a pace which has outstripped the rate of population increase, whilst overall productivity per worker has increased. this, however, has not been enough to make the desired impact on living standards.

Already, many programmes to accelerate increase in agricultural production, diversify crops and reduce dependence on rain-fed agriculture are under way.

Current and future emphasis, therefore, is on increased productivity which will bring our farmers better returns, provide cheaper and more abundant food for our growing towns and cities, supply more raw materials to our industries and boost exports.

 The NDC's efforts to diversify farming are making an important impact on the economy. Presently, as many as 58 non-traditional agricultural products are being shipped by over 1500 exporters to 60 different countries. There is great scope for increasing these exports, especially in areas such as cassava chips, fruits, nuts, spices, plants and flowers, mushrooms, etc.

 Extension officers have been given better training, mobility and incentives to improve their services to our farmers. 459 housing units have been provided for frontline staff, 110 more are to be built under current programmes. Nearly 2000 motorcycles have been provided for field staff, as well as pickups and other technical support equipment.

 The impending decentralization of the Extension Services will enhance the effective transfer of improved methods at the District level.

 There has been a steady progress in dam construction and the establishment of small and medium irrigation projects, whilst work has started in all 10 Regions on facilities under the Agricultural Sector Investment Project. These include 194 markets, 205 water projects, 146 agro-processing facilities and 144 key feeder roads.

 These are additions to rural development projects being undertaken by District Assemblies or under other national programmes.

 In addition, large scale investment in commercial crop production, involving both mechanization and irrigation, will continue to be promoted in appropriate areas.

 To improve the nutritional status of our people, extra attention will be given to the production of animal protein.

 In the case of livestock, there is no reason why Ghana should continue to import large quantities of live animals, meat, poultry and daily products. Livestock farmers have been provided with services including improved breeding stock, dam, animal health and improved husbandry methods. Our priority target will be to improve the response of livestock farmers to the opportunities now available.

 Fish catches from both marine and inland waters have shown some decline. This problem can not to solved by putting more canoes and fishing vessels to work, because it is due to declining fish stocks caused by over-fishing, unauthorized fishing methods and pollution of fish breeding areas such as lagoons.

 Our emphasis must be on ensuring the long term sustainability of our marine and inland fisheries, and by increasing fish production through scientific aquaculture.

The ability of a nation to feed itself and to provide access for all of its people to adequate and affordable food does not depend only on efficient production.

 Proper storage, handling, processing and marketing can prevent waste, improve the income of the producers, and at the same time give consumers access to more cheaper food.

 The many grain storage silos built throughout the country in recent years are under-utilized and ways to encourage their effective and full use will be a priority.

 Better use of all existing and new storage facilities, more efficent marketing, access to affordable inputs and credit, and assistance to establish processing enterprises will be part of the NDC's strategy to ensure food security and to reduce the cost of living for urban workers.

 Cocoa continues to be an important sector of the national economy.

 Cocoa production increased by 29% from 240,00 tonnes in 1991/92 to 310,000 tonnes in 1994/95. It is expected to reach 340,000 tonnes in 1995/96.

 The producer price paid to farmers has increased by 334% over the same period. Government revenue from cocoa export duty exceeded its budget target by ¢13 billion in 1994 and by ¢27 billion in 1995.

 Operating expenses of COCOBOD have been drastically reduced, whilst internal marketing of cocoa has been liberalized.

 The NDC has set a production target of 400,000 tonnes cocoa by the year 2000. Of this, some 120,000 tonnes will be processed locally.

 Already, the West African Mills at Takoradi, rehabilitated in the NDC's first term of office, provides the most modern processing plant on the West Coast of Africa. When the planned rehabilitation of the Tema cocoa Factory is completed, our local mills will be able to handle the targeted 120,000 tonnes, creating more jobs and improving export earnings through added value.

 The NDC aims at steadily increasing the producer price paid to farmers to between 55% and 65% of the export price by the year 2000, whilst continuing to provide incentives through the farmers welfare package programme.

 In our 1992 Manifesto, we stated our intention to maintain and enhance Ghana's sound reputation as a responsible producer of tropical timber from sustainably managed forests.

 A new Forest and Wildlife Policy was also approved to replace the one which remained unchanged for 50 years.

 Under it, the Annual Allowable Cut was revised to realistic levels, requiring a ban on log exports to check indiscriminate and speculative felling. Forest fees and royalties were revised to ensure that the timber industry paid appropriate amounts to District Assemblies and stools for the national resource base made available to them, and to the agencies which managed that resource. Export incentivies intended to encourage value added exports and the use of non-threatened species were introduced, and sanctions for timber offences were increased.

 A special Task Force was set up to supplement the Forestry Department's law enforcement capabilities, and has been able to reduce drastically the incidence of illegal felling and other offences.

 As a result of these measures, Ghana has been assessed by the International Tropical Timber Organization as one of only three developing countries likely to attain the year 2000 Objectives, i.e. that all exports will come from responsibly and sustainably managed forests.

 As we stated in 1992, the NDC will not be swayed from pursuing responsible forest policies by the pleas and complaints of inefficient exploiters.

 A Timber Rights Bill will be enacted to ensure the orderly allocation of concessions only to competent timber contractors with the ability to add maximum value and manage their concessions responsibly whilse ensuring adequate timber products for the local market.

Involvement of the local communities in the protection and management of forest resources has already begun on a pilot basis, and will be expanded.

The Timber Export Development Board will be re-organized as the Timber Industry Development Board, balancing domestic needs with exports.

To ease pressure on our natural forests, incentives will be provided to encourage commercial timber plantations on a large scale.

Through the NDC's policy of attracting private capital to rejuvenate the mining sector, further gains have been made.

By 1993, annual gold production had already reached 1.2 million ounces, from a low of 338,000 ounces in 1982. In 1995, it reached 1.7 million ounces, generating revenue of more than US$ 640 million.

Despite the divestiture of some State-owned mines, and the redeployment of some employees, total labour strength formerly employed in mining continues to grow, due to the establishment of new mining ventures.

The NDC has carried out its policy to reinvest some of the revenue from the sector, through the Minerals Development Fund proposed in our 1992 Manifesto, to improve the quality of life in mining communities for development projects. By 1995, the amount has risen to ¢2 billion.

A programme has recently been initiated to assist and monitor the work of small-scale licenced miners to make them more efficient, enable them to obtain appropriate equipment and ensure that their operations cause minimal environmental damage.

The programme will also reclaim land degraded by the illegal mining operations, check unlicenced miners, and designate suitable areas for small scale operators.

The next NDC government will continue to promote investment in large-scale mining for gold and dismonds to maintain the very successful growth of this sector. We will also strengthen the regulation of small scale mining to eliminate illegal operations whilst enabling registered miners to work in more efficient, profitable and environmentally friendly manner.

The NDC will focus increasingly on the development of industrial minerals, including bauxite, managanese, iron ore, silica and limestone. Those already being exploited are ripe for further expansion, whilst others, such as Ghana's extensive but untouched iron ore deposits, are long overdue for development.

The NDC's aim will be to diversify the growing mining sector.

Modern industry, agro-processing, commercial activity and sustainable job creation require countrywide access to affordable and environmentally friendly energy sources.

Pumping of urban water supplies, the running of new educational facilities such as libraries, science centres, and the provision of health needs such as preservation of vaccines and the functioning of modern operating theatres, all need power.

The majority of our people living in the rural areas also have the right to enjoy light, access to electronic media, refrigeration and domestic appliances, power for corn-mills, cold stores and other small-scale enterprises, and above all the sense of being part of a nation and not belonging to some neglected and forgotten hinterland which lives in darkness whilst a select few enjoy the fruits of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah's Akosombo foresight.

The process begun by the PNDC, which initiated the so-called "impossible" task of extending electricity beyond the Accra-Kumasi-Takoradi triangle, has moved much further since the National electrification Programme was started.

What was "impossible" became possible through the determination and commitment, or what the opposition likes to call "electricity politics".

To the NDC, it is not "politics" that by the end of 1995, 42 District capitals formerly without 24 hour power or in some cases without power at all had been connected to the National Grid. As of today, only 20 District capitals are without power; but before December, 1996, 7 of these will be connected. The remaining 13 will be connected within the first two years of our renewed mandate.

A total of 974 other communities were also connected, some as part of the District capitals programme and others through Self help Electrification Programme I and II. (SHEP I & II).

In January this year, the National Electrification Project began a new programme to provide a further 435 communities, including aditional District capitals, with electricity.

SHEP III will begin this year and will bring power to another 1,400 communities.

The unprecedented National Electrification Programme will be continued under the next NDC administration.

With the remarkable growth of industry, mining and service industries there is a growing demand for additional energy. The major thermal power station under construction near Takoradi will be completed and an offshore generating plant using natural gas will feed power into the National Grid.

It is right of our people to have access to electricity as basic factor for development.

Many rural even urban people continue to rely on woodfuels despite the adverse environmental consequences of the use of firewood and charcoal.

It has therefore been part of the NDC's energy policy to encourage the use of energy-efficient charcoal stoves. Currently, over 30,000 fuel-saving coalpots introduced since 1992 are in use. Many communities have developed woodlots for firewood and the advantages of alternative energy sources such as biogas, solar energy, and micro-hydro projects are being practically demonstrated in small rural communities throughout the country.

The Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) programme has also made great strides. 216 major public and private institutions have now converted from the use of firewood to LPG. Today, pito brewers, chop-bar keepers, kenkey producers and other food sellers now use LPG.

The major constraint to the expansion of the LPG promotion programme has been the scarcity, and therefore the artificially high cost, of gas cylinders.

The NDC will complete the establishment of the factory to manufacture gas cylinders, so that this constraint is overcome.

New petroleum exploration contracts have recently been signed, whilst strategic petroleum storage depots have been established at Adomi, Buipe and Bolgatanga to ensure adequate supply of petroleum to all parts of the country at all times.

It is the aim of the NDC to ensure that fuel is available at all times to service industry and for domestic use, and that never again will Ghanaians have to queue for days on end to buy fuel as used to happen in the 1970's and the early 1980's.

Thanks to the progressive policies of the NDC, tourism has grown from insignificance to Ghana's third foreign exchange earner after gold and cocoa.

In 1995, tourism contributed 5% of our Gross National Product, earning US$ 370 million, compared to a negligible US$ 85,000 before 1992.

Job opportunities were created for 270,000 Ghanaians in tourism related-industries.

This has been achieved through vigorous, careful planning, coordination and quality control and full collaboration with the private sector. The stable and democratic environment of the past four years has been a very important factor in creating a conducive atmosphere for tourism.

Even more significant, with an annual growth-rate of 12%, and Ghana's limitless natural, cultural and historic attractions as its resource base, tourism offers enormous potential for growth.

Ghana's spectacular achievements in the tourist trade have been internationally recognized.

The NDC will continue to promote this rapidly expanding industry, whilst guarding against the negative social consequences which indiscriminate tourism development has brought to some other countries.

In our 1992 manifesto, we pointed out two main types of unemployment: that generated by the drift of uneducated rural youth to the bright lights of the cities and towns, and that caused by economic stagnation and the lack of available productive jobs.

During our term of office we have addressed both of these problems at their roots, and not by initiating costly and non productive schemes at the taxpayers expense.

More and more of our rural youth have had access to relevant education, and more and more rural communities have electricity, water and other basic amenities.

The challenge now is to convince our rural youth that with initiative and enterprise, they can make a dignified and prosperous living in their own communities. Rural-based programmes to provide entrepreneural skills, access to credit and encouragement to adopt new initiatives are already on the ground.

When we said in 1992 that new jobs are created by economic growth and investment in the private sector, we were determined to stand by this.

We have been vindicated by the results.

It is true that we have a population growth rate of just under 3% each year and that young people will be reaching working age at this rate for some time to come.

It is also true that there is a backlog of unemployed or underemployed people, dating from the period of economic decline.

But facts speak for themselves.

In the construction sector, employment has grown at a rate of about 39%. This includes government projects as well as private sector development. The jobs made available are not only for unskilled labourers and artisans such as masons, plumbers, carpenters, etc. They include engineers, accountants and management personnel.

Employment opportunities in manufacturing have grown by 17.5% and in agriculture, forestry and fisheries by 12.5%.

These are real jobs, arising out of positive investment climate. They are not artificial jobs created at the taxpayer's expense in order to demonstrate some apparent commitment to the right to work.

The right to work means that you should not be prevented from seeking productive work, that you should have opportunities to develop your skills, competence and initiative, and that a climate of economic growth should prevail, creating a demand for labour.

This, the NDC has done and shall continue to do.

The right to work also implies a fair and realistic reward for labour. That is another objective of the NDC.

The NDC will maintain and strengthen its links with organized labour and employers through the machinery of the Tripartite Committee, the National Advisory Council on Labour and the Standing Joint Negotiating bodies of individual enterprises.

The NDC government has commissioned a study into the vexed issues relating to remuneration and salary relativities to ensure fair and equitable wage regimes for all categories of workers. Also, the International labour Organization has been invited to help to develop mutually acceptable guidelines for determining a fair minimum wage.

All categories of employees, professional, technical, skilled and unskilled must recognize the danger in being tempted to hold the economy to ransom for short-term gains. What determines the ability of the economy to provide fair and sustainable rewards for our work is not our desires, or even our genuine needs, but our productivity.

Let us therefore work together to increase productivity, efficiency and economic growth, so that all may receive a satisfying and sustainable reward for our labours.

The NDC recognizes that at the end of a man or woman's active working life, there is the need for comfortable security.

The SSNIT Pension Scheme is currently being improved, and the NDC will intensify pubic education to bring workers in the informal and agricultural sectors and the self-employed into the scheme to enjoy its growing benefits.

The healthy goals set out in the NDC's 1992 manifesto have been achieved.

These were to support Primary Health Care as the most way effective of promoting good health in our communities, to renovate, extend and equip all hospital facilities, to provide facilities which will reduce the need for all Ghanaians to seek treatment abroad, and to examine ways to keep the cost of health care to a minimum. In support and further development of the Primary Health Care Programme, 22 District Health Management Team offices have been built, whilst 20 bungalows have been provided for the District Directors of Health Services.

The end of guinea worm infection is in sight, thanks to a vigorous programme of education and treatment and the provision of improved water supply and sanitation throughout the country. Access to safe water has also reduce diarrhoeal diseases and common parasitic worm infection in many communities.

With regard to the renovation, extension and equipment of hospital facilities, a massive rehabilitation programme has fully or partially renovated 2 teaching hospitals, 8 regional hospitals, 10 health training institutions, 6 medical stores, 8 District hospitals, 3 Leprosaria, 75 health centres, 20 clinics, and accommodation for 600 health workers since 1993.

The Central Medical Stores and 5 Regional Stores have been renovated and modernized as part of the improved management of essential drugs.

Complete sets of essential equipment have been provided to 18 hospitals and 24 health centres, whilst full sets of laboratory equipment have been provided for 20 hospitals and 780 health centres.

New health facilities established during the NDC's first term of office include 33 health centres, 48 clinics and 3 public health reference laboratories, whilst 14 health centres are currently being converted into District hospitals..

In addition, reconstructive plastic surgery units have been established in 2 teaching hospitals, whilst a cardio-thoracic unit and a radium therapy unit for the treatment of cancer have been established at Korle Bu and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospitals respectively. Two more general-purpose radiotherapy units are presently under construction.

Our health goals for the next four years shall be a continuation of those policies we set ourselves in 1992. The implementation strategies will include the construction of 45 more new health centres and the rehabilitation of 100 exiting centres.

Work on the new Cape Coast and Ho Regional Hospitals will be vigorously pursued, as will the rehabilitation of selected District Hospitals and the upgrading of selected health centres. Consturctional work will also begin on the Sunyani Regional Hospital.

Re-equipment of health facilities will be further accelerated, with 240 health centres and 28 hospitals, both government and mission, to benefit. A five year Programme to provide diagnostic imaging equipment for 70 hospitals will begin this year and be completed within our next term of office.

The Health Service, for which a Bill has already been introduced in Parliament , will also be established.

Feasibility studies on the proposed Health Insurance Scheme have been completed, and the scheme will be tested on a pilot basis. If successful, it will be introduced on a national scale as part of the NDC's health policy.

Both Pantang and Ankaful Psychiatric Hospitals are presently being renovated in anticipation of the relocation of the overcrowded Accra Psychiatric Hospital.

The immunization programme has continued to be strongly promoted, These efforts will be maintained, and polio is expected to disappear from the list of serious childhood diseases by the year 2000.

The world wide increase in tuberculosis, as well as the continuing spread of AIDS, are a major challenge not only to our health personnel but to all members of our society. The NDC will continue to rise to that challenge.

In 1992 we stated that the NDC would work to ensure that our educational system delivers consistent, high quality and relevant education in morals, cultural values, academic subjects and practical skills.

We believe that access to education is an individual right for the development and fulfilment of the potential of each Ghanaian.

At the same time, appropriate education is the principal means to provide our nation with skilled and enterprising manpower for the task of nation building.

In pursuance of these objectives, 269 new Primary Schools were opened between early 1993 and the first quarter of 1996. 386 Junior Secondary School were also opened during the same period.

16,500 new teachers were trained for Basic Level Education. 2,143 bungalows have been built for headteachers, as well as 91 houses for teachers at higher levels.

1,853 classroom pavilions have been provided for needy communities.

Primary enrolment has increased by only 4%, and this is where a major effort must be made. However, the figure would have been higher if some rural schools had not been disrupted by outbreaks of ethnic violence.

JSS enrolment has increased by 5% over the period, indicating a growing trend for children to continue their basic education beyond primary level.

The programme for Free, Compulsory and Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) was initiated and will be pursed to meet the target for its full achievement. Quality and relevance of education are a vital part of the programme, and not merely getting all children into school by the target date.

The establishment of Science Resource Centres in each District is progressing rapidly, whilst the National Computer Education Centre will also bring modern technology within reach of many more children.

Clearly, the NDC's pledge to make education accessible to more children has been kept.

SSS enrolment has increased by 22.2%, whilst tertiary education has shown a massive 57.4% increase in enrolment. This has been made possible in part by the establishment of 21 new Senior Secondary Schools, the University of Development Studies and the University College of Education.

The expansion of tertiary education will continue, with every Region having a polytechnic by the end of our second term. The Regional Colleges of Applied Arts, Science and Technology (RECAAST) bringing all career oriented institutions together for better coordination will also be estblished.

Work is far advanced towards the introduction of distance learning, to further expand access to tertiary education.

A Joint Admission and Matriculation Board will be established to coordinate admissions to tertiary institutions, whilst a National Teaching Council will support the improvement of teacher education and certification.

The NDC's commitment to opening up opportunities for adult literacy has been fully justified. Not only have thousands of adults become literate and numerate, but their quality of life has improved through the practical application of topics such as health, nutrition, agricultural methods and other relevant information contained in their lessons. Some have even gone on to enter the formal educational systems.

Those who criticise the provision of bicycles and other incentives to facilitators working with the Non Formal Education Division would condemn all those who have had the misfortune to reach adulthood without education to remain in ignorance.

The NDC believe in education for all.

Nobody can fail to notice the rapid growth of housing since 1992.

Most of this increase is the product of the private sector, either through commercial real estate developers or individuals. This housing boom is proof of the favourable investment climate and the growing economy created by the NDC.

Whilst state agencies are no longer the principal providers of new housing in our urban areas, they have continued to add significantly to the housing stock. Since 1992, SSNIT has built over 4,500 housing units. The restructured State Housing Company Ltd. has added another 2,500.

These do not include the many housing units build for District Assembly staff, headteachers, District Health Management teams, agricultural and forestry field staff under projects all over the country, or the many workers housing project built by the revitalized mining industry and other private enterprises.

The Tema Development Corporation has provided about 1,500 serviced plot, with tarred roads, drainage, water and electricity and has rehabilitated much of the Tema Sewerage system.

The Home Finance Company has continued to assist people to own homes, whilst the Public Servants' Housing Scheme has enabled over 1000 houses to be built since 1993.

During the NDC's next term of office, attention will be given to a re-examination of rent policies, including the obligation of landlords to provide basic amenities in rented premises, whilst we continue to pursue our 1992 housing objectives. Those objectives include making truly affordable housing a reality, encouraging the production of more rental units, providing tax incentives for estate developers catering for urban low income units and forming housing cooperatives in the rural areas.

Attention will also be focussed on improvement of rural housing in our second term, which should also see the establishment of the Rural Housing Assistance Fund.

In pursuit of the NDC's policy to make safe water accessible to all, 10 major water projects, including the Kpeve/Ho and Ho Rural, Akim Oda and the Cape Coast and Sekondi/Takoradi improvement project have been completed since 1993.

9 other major projects will be completed in 1996, including the Techiman, Konongo, Navrongo, Lawra and Yendi supplies.

The Accra-Tema Water Supply project, which is ongoing, will be completed in 1997, increasing water supply by 25% and providing efficient delivery to areas such as Dansoman and Teshie-Nungua.

In the Eastern Region, 35 medium/small water systems have been rehabilitated.

A project to improve water supplies to 42 towns in the Northern, Upper West and Upper East Regions has begun. 9 are in progress, and 20 more will start in 1996, whilst tenders for a further 5 are being prepared.

7 town water systems will be rehabilitated and expanded in Western and Central Regions, 7 in the Volta Region, 11 in Ashanti and Brong Ahafo and 6 in the Eastern Region. Work on several of these will begin this year.

Work will begin on a new scheme to supply water to 60 communities in the Ada, Keta and Sogakope area, whilst Obuasi town water supply will be increased by 4 million gallons per day.

Whilst programmes have gone on to provide all cities, towns and larger vilages with reliable and safe water, as well as improved sanitation, the small rural communities have not been left out.

In pursuance of rural needs the NDC Government established the Community Water and Sanitation Division of the GWSC. That Division has established and trained water and sanitation committees at Community and District levels and has trained pump caretakers and area mechanics, to enable rural communities to manage water sanitation facilities and improve health.

In 1995 alone, nearly 1000 water systems ranging from boreholes to pipe systems and hand-dug wells have been either constructed or rehabilitated, and nearly 1000 latrines provided for households, rural schools and communities.

Added to this, NGO's have provided many more water and sanitation facilities in rural areas, and this partnership with government will continue.

Our every successful water delivery strategy stated in our 1992 Manifesto will continue to be pursued in our second term. This is to provide safe water supply to all urban centres and to use appropriate technology which can be easily maintained by the rural communities in partnership with District Assemblies to deliver safe water in the rural areas.

The commitment made in the NDC's 1992 manifesto to improve the movement of people and goods has been honoured.

In recognition of the importance of the private sector in road transportation, the NDC assisted the GPRTU to acquire 300 large and medium buses, whilst the three public bus companies STC, OSA and City Express have augmented their fleets with about 250 new buses and necessary spares.

The capacity of the Ghana Railway Corporation was increased with improved signalling and communication equipment and the addition of 26 new locomotive and 100 wagons. The Eastern and Central lines were rehabilitated.

Tema and Takoradi harbours were further rehabilitated and are now recognized as being among Africa's most efficient ports.

Lake transport has also improved, with the rehabilitation of three ferry craft and the passenger/cargo vessel, Yapei Queen.

2 landing stages were reconstructed at Yeji and Makango, and 3 others, at Adawso, Ekye-Amanfro and Kete Krachi will be completed by mid 1996.

The first phase of modernization of the Kotoka International Airport was completed.

In the next four years, the ports of Tema and Takoradi will be further developed to facilitate the Free Zone programme whilst an inland port will be established near Kumasi.

Kumasi and Tamale airports will also be upgraded to international standards to support the growing investment and tourist traffic.

Improved telecommunications reduce high transportation costs and stimulate business and investment. In recognition of this, the NDC government has, over the last four years, introduced major improvements into the country's telecommunications network and substantially increased access to telecommuniction facilities.

Our objective is to ensure that by the end of 1996, the pre-1992 density of 3 telephones per 1000 people will have increased to 8 per 1000 people, and the number of direct exchange lines will have risen from 50,000 to 120,000.

With increased private sector participation, the NDC expects to raise the telephone density to 30 per thousand people by the year 2000.

Without a good road system, freedom of movement is limited, whilst agriculture, trade and industry cannot function effectively.

By the time the NDC's 1992 manifesto was published, the PNDC government had already completed many road and bridge projects, including major highways, urban roads and feeder roads. Many other programmes were already ongoing, and continued smoothly into the NDC government's first term of office.

Major road projects require a lot of work on design, preparation of tenders, financing, etc. before construction actually begins. Indeed, the preliminary stages may take longer than the actual construction.

For this reason, a community may think that government is doing nothing about their much-needed road, when in fact it is working hard on the preparation of the project.

For this reason too, it is difficult to enumerate the road works carried out during the NDC's first term of office, since some of them were prepared or actually started before the government came to office, whilst many others are now in the preparatory stages, with construction scheduled to start later this year or even in 1997.

Against the background of the early 1980s, when all roads were barely vehicle-worthy and there were hardly any vehicles to ply them, or fuel to move the vehicles, nearly 1400 kilometres of major highways, 9 major bridges, almost 17,000 kilometres of feeder roads and 222 kilometres of urban roads have been built, not to mention cocoa roads, innumerable small bridges, and maintenance of existing roads and bridges. Consequently, we are in the process of fulfilling our objective of linking all Regional capitals to Accra by first class roads.

The NDC renews its commitment to pursue a planned and comprehensive programme to bring good roads to every part of the country.

In its first term of office, the NDC continued the PNDC programme to rehabilitate decayed and degraded urban infrastructure. The Urban I and II programmes under the PNDC had began to address these problems.

The Urban III project has taken rehabilitation programme to 11 secondary towns, whilst Urban IV is addressing environment, sanitation and flooding problems in Accra, Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi, Tamale, and Tema.

Discussions are now going on for Urban V which will cover 23 more urban centres, so that by the year 2000, all of our 34 major towns will have decent basic infrastructure.

Joint Development Planning Areas will be established to cover the areas around the major metropolitan areas, to ensure orderly and coordinated growth of our cities and surrounding areas.

The ongoing development works in Tamale will enable it to be granted "city" status with in a Metropolitan Assembly. This will make Tamale Ghana's 4th city.

A national population census will be conducted, to provide the data needed to support popular demand for the creation of new Districts for more effective administration and development. it will also hopefully, enable some more towns to qualify for urban centre status.

The Land Policy Framework promised in the NDC manifesto has been prepared and circulated to relevant agencies for comment, and will be subjected to public which and discussion. A clear and comprehensive policy which aims to ensure wise and planned use of our land, and equitable and secure access to land for housing, agriculture, forestry, mining, industry, recreation and environmental conservation should emerge from these discussion.

The land title registration programme will be extended to other urban areas including Tema, Kumasi and those parts of Accra not yet covered.

Particular attention will be given to controlling the widespread indiscipline in land use, and the District Assemblies will be assisted to enforce the provision of the Local Government Act dealing with unauthorized development.

The expeditious handling of land disputes, encroachment and illegal development will be a priority for the next NDC administration.

During the NDC government's first term of office, a revised population policy was adopted and National Population Council was established.

Family planning programmes were vigorously pursued in the interest of maternal and child health, the economic well-being of family units, and the national economy.

The acceptability of family planning methods has increased and all sectors of society are now more aware of the benefits of planned families.

The NDC will continue to promote responsible parenthood and healthy, happy families, as well as enhance the quality of life of he people of Ghana - men and women, children, adolescents, parents and the aged - as an important component of our national population policy.

The Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology was established, as promised in the 1992 manifesto, to liase with the many agencies dealing with the wide-ranging aspects of environmental protection and conservation, and to coordinate action in resolving environmental problems.

The Environmental Protection Council was transformed into a strong Agency (the EPA) with powers of monitoring and enforcement of environmental standards.

Our natural environment, consisting of the land and soil, rivers, vegetation and wildlife provides us with our needs but in satisfying those needs, we change and modify the natural environment and create a new, man-made environment.

If fone without proper care, we can destroy and degrade the natural environment whilst creating dirty, badly planned and unhealthy towns and cities.

It is the conviction of the NDC that with proper planning and control, we can protect and safeguard our natural heritage and also expand our economic activities in ways which do not degrade the environment.

Social and economic development requires the interchange of factual information and opinion, to form the basis for discussion, debate and policy formulation.

A socially-responsible media plays an importan role in the dissemination of information for this purpose, as well as for education and entertainment.

The government of the NDC has demonstrated its commitment to the independence and freedom of the media as enshrined in the Constitution, despite the provocative and sometimes vicious manner in which some sections of the media have exceeded the bounds of that freedom.

The NDC recognizes that in a young constitutional democracy, the tools of information and communication should be responsibly used so as not to jeopardize national unity, security, public order or public morality, and that a policy framework is necessary to guide the media.

The NDC will off-load part of government shares in the print media to the private sector and the general public, in order to ensure a greater degree of public involovement.

The airwaves are a public asset. The NDC will therefore continue liberalization of the airwaves and encourage independent radio and television services to offer the public a wider range of choice alongside Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, whilst ensuring that the airwaves are used in the public interest.

The objectives of Vision 2020 can best be achieved if Ghana is linked to the worldwide information superhighway. Steps have already been taken towards creating a Ghana home page on the Internet, with a view to ensuring a continually updated flow of information on businesses, investment, travel, tourism and current events to the rest of the world, using the latest communication technology.

The preservation of our artistic, cultural and historic heritage and the promotion of creativity is necessary for the enhancement of our values and for the enrichment and enjoyment of present and future generations of Ghanaians.

However, the remarkable growth of the tourist industry over the past three years is clear proof of the economic gains generated by the NDC's promotion of the arts and culture.

The NDC will continue to pursue our policy of establishing fully-functional centres for National Culture in all our Regional and District capitals.

Keeping faith with its respect for all religious beliefs, the NDC Government established two Public Holidays to enable all Ghanaians to share the two principal Muslim religious celebrations, in addition to the four Christian public holidays.

The NDC will continue to work hand in hand with all religious groups involved in social, education, health and development projects for the well-being of the people and for peace and harmonious relations, and will value the example and moral guidance which religious leaders provide to society.

Despite improvement in sports facilities and the rapid growth of Keep Fit Clubs, private gymnasia, and private recreational facilities, there is still a shortfall in public stadia and other facilities, especially in the Districts and some Regions.

As a result, talented children may miss the chance to develop potential skills.

Whilst District may commit a share of the District Assemblies Common Fund to the provision of basic infrastructure for sports, the NDC will encourage more business firms and corporate bodies to contribute to national sports development by funding and equipping public sports facilities.

It has been calculated that for effective and efficient promotion of sports in Ghana, every two million people should have a 70,000 seat capacity stadium (like the Kumasi Stadium) and every 200,000 people should have a 7,000 seat capacity stadium (like the El-Wak Stadium).

Ultimately, therefore, the NDC would like to see every regional capital having the Kumasi type of stadium with multi-purpose Sports Hall and every district capital having an El-Wak type of stadium.

It is also long overdue for Ghana to have one Olympic standard stadium capable of hosting the major international competitions.

The next NDC Government will lead efforts to provide and maintain an Olympic standard stadium for Ghana.

Ghana's abundant sporting talent will continue to be nurtured and encouraged. In football, the Black Stars will be given every assistance to qualify for the World cup in France '98. World class boxing talent will continue to be promoted, whilst greater diversity of sporting activities will be encouraged.

The NDC will continue to commit itself to the development of community and national youth programmes in the areas of culture, recreation and vocational training, to inculcate a spirit of adventure, discovery and patriotism in our young people as they prepare for adult life.

There are now 6 Youth Leadership Training Institutes. The NDC plans to establish 4 more so that each Region will have a Training Institute to provide the transfer of skills to improve employment opportunities particularly in the artisanal traits. This will be integral to employment generation schemes to be launched by the next NDC administration.

The activities of voluntary youth associations will be co-ordinated by a National Youth Council, a new statutory body to replace the present NYOC. A National Youth forum to provide a platform for all registered youth organsations to cross-fertilise a National Youth Week during which period activities to emphasis the link between environment awareness and sustainable development will be undertaken.

An NDC administration will encourage the establishment of Youth Recreational Centres, the formation of Youth Clubs and the organisation of periodic Youth Workcamps and Festivals to enable the youth focus and direct their enegies as positive agents of change in the nation's economic and social transformation.

The principal duty of the military establishment is to safeguard and defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation.

However, the military have shown their ability to contribute to the welfare of the civilian population in civil works such as road and bridge building, the provision of health facilities, operating internal air transport, the training of civilians ranging from National Service Personnel, Game and Wildlife officers and Senior Civil Servants and in handling disaster situtations such as floods and ethnic strife.

The NDC will ensure that the military continues to enhance this interaction with the civilian population.

The military has also demonstrated its capability to assist the relevant government agencies in programmes to preserve our natural resources by checking illegal felling of timber, illegal farming in the forest reserves, illegal gold and diamond mining and illegal sand winning and stone quarrying activities along our beaches. This capability will be enhanced and extended.

Under an NDC government, the military will continue to participate in international peace keeping operations. We will provide the means and the facilities to maintain the high standard of professionalism now acknowledged worldwide of Ghanaian troops.

The Rule of Law is the very foundation of democratic and constitutional government. The NDC is committed to the maintenance of law and order.

Unfortunately, there has been an unacceptable increase in lawlessness, especially unrest arising from ethnic, chieftaincy and land disputes and from politically motivated demonstrations which have sometimes turned violent.

To enable the police to handle these situations, the NDC government has provided them with vehicles and communications equipment.

Orders have been placed for crowd control equipment to enable riotous behaviour to be checked, and enable law abiding citizens to go about their affairs in peace nd security.

A Presidential Commission has been established to examine the structure, effectiveness and inherent weaknesses of the Police Service, with a view to transforming the Service into an effective, competent and professional organization which will have the full respect and goodwill of the public. Its report will form the basis for the reorganization and modernization of the Police Service by the next NDC Government.

The ultimate responsibility for law and order however rests on the large society. As we stated in our 1992 Manifesto, we will encourage the proper and coordinated evolution of neighbourhood watch committees to include citizens in crime prevention and establish concrete cooperation between the police and the communities they serve.

 Under the next NDC administration, the Ghanaian policeman and the people will become partners in the maintenance of law and order.

 The NDC remains committed to Justice for all, easy accessibility of the Courts and Tribunal to the people, the independence of the Judiciary and respect for the Rule of Law.

 In its first term of office, the NDC government had to concentrate on the numerous legislation required by the new constitution. All of these were passed, and within the constitution time-frame too.

 In the second term of the NDC Government, attention will be shifted to social and criminal legislation, Reports and Drafts of Bills which have been worked on by the Law Reform Commission in these areas will be targeted for possible enactment. They include those in Illiterates Protection, Customary Dowry in Marriage, Maintenance of Children, Civil Liability, Mental Health, State Lands, Prevention of Diseases, Family Relations, Trusts, Age of Majority, costs of Litigation, Computer Crime and Road Traffic.

 The process of merging the Public Tribunals with the traditional courts has proved slower than anticipated. However, 7 Regional Tribunals, 9 Circuit Tribunals and 59 community Tribunals are now in place and are helping to expedite the administration of justice. The next NDC government will ensure that all the Regional and District Tribunals are established and many more community tribunals are set up for the speedy administration of justice.

 A Legal Sector Reform Programme has been initiated to make the legal system responsive and relevant to the needs of industry, commerce and society as a whole.

 The PNDC's Legal Aid Scheme Law will be revised and made more effective in its bid to provide legal assistance to the poor and the needy.

The NDC will provide the Judicial Service with the means to expedite its work and continue to uphold the independence of the Judiciary, whilst remaining committed to its objective of justice for all.

As an initiator of the Orgnaization of African Unity and the leader in the struggle for independence, Ghana has a duty to maintain her role in African affairs.

The NDC will endeavour to contribute to a more practical and active OAU, and to translate the ideals of ECOWAS into more concrete action.

This is especially important when several neighbouring countries are threatened with instability. President RAWLINGS' Chairmanship of ECOWAS for two consecutive terms is a recognition of the pivotal role Ghana has been playing in the subregion.

 To many members of the Diaspora around the world, Ghana is their "home country", both ancestrally and also because of Ghana's association with the giants of Pan Africanism.

 The increasing flow of tourist, scholars and investors is a testimony to this. The NDC will continue to foster and facilitate this interaction.

 SOUTH-SOUTH COMMITMENT

 The NDC is committed to the need for greater trade and cooperation among the nations of the South and to a common stand against the unjust world economic order which is rapidly widening the gap between North and South.

 Ghana under the first NDC administration played an active role in the Non-Aligned Movement's effort to promote South-South cooperation and has supported the South Commission.

 In more practical terms the investment promotion tour of South-East Asia undertaken by the President in 1995 has opened up vistas of increased economic cooperation between Ghana and countries of the subregion.

 The NDC will encourage Ghanaian businessmen and entrepreneurs to take advantage of these new opportunities to attract to Ghana the much-needed investment. The establishment by the NDC Government of a new Bureau of Trade and Investment within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will assist these efforts.

 The NDC will maintain Ghana's special relationship with the Comonwealth, and will extend Ghana's cooperation and participation in the work of the United Nations and its specialized agencies.

 The NDC will continue to ensure that Ghana speaks out in international fora for world peace and against injustice and oppression.

 We can now look back on more than three years of the NDC's first term of office. We have lived up to the expectation of our people and the world community.

 There were some who doubted whether we could make the transition to constitutional democracy in an orderly and united manner, without the turmoil and violence which is racking some sister countries.

 The NDC did it!

 There were some who doubted whether an NDC government, with traditions rooted in a revolution process, could function within the constraints, lengthy procedures, checks and balances of a constitutional system.

 The NDC did it!

 There were some who doubted whether the sometimes harsh discipline of necessary economic reforms, and the simultaneous drive to bring power, health, water, roads education and other basic development infrastructure to all corners of our nation, could be sustained.

 The NDC did it!

 In several sectors targets have been exceeded and more has been achieved than was thought possible.

 But we must be realistic.

 The needs of some of our long-neglected communities are still so acute, and the needs of our growing population are still so many that even though much has ben done, there is a great deal still to be done.

 The NDC calls for your mandate once again, in order to continue the many ongoing programmes which have been carefully designed to reach out into every corner of the country, and to build a sustainable economy which will lift this nation into the 21st century as a thriving, peaceful and prosperous society.

 The NDC needs more than your vote.

 The Party needs your understanding, your commitment and your involvement in he difficult but noble task of uniting to move Ghana forward to attain our shares vision of the future.

 Vote NDC for Unity!

 Vote NDC for Stability!

 Vote NDC for Development!