President John Dramani Mahama has indicated that Ghana, has made significant progress towards achieving Universal Access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services through the implementation of a National HIV & AIDS Strategic Plan.
He indicated that as the nation forge ahead in social development and economic transformation, it was important to be mindful of persons who, for reasons of social and economic circumstances had become vulnerable and marginalized.
President Mahama said government had developed a two-pronged programme to protect those who require permanent protection, and empower them through training, and activate those who could be reintegrated into the labour market.
He said in pursuit of this agenda, the new Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection had been tasked to initiate a process to track, monitor, assist and address the diverse needs of the vulnerable in Ghana.
"We have also taken stock of all the existing social protection programmes, and relocated them directly under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection".
He said this would enable the government to develop a more efficient targeting mechanism and eliminate duplication and manipulation of existing fragmented social protection programmes.
In the field of sports and development the President alluded to Ghana's failure to meet the much-cherished dream of winning a fifth African Cup of Nations title in the just ended AFCON competition at the semi-final stage through the lottery of penalty.
He expressed the hope that upon their return from South Africa, the handlers of the National Team had begun undertaking the necessary post-mortem in order to ensure its qualification for the World Cup in Brazil next year.
"I have confidence in their ability to make the necessary changes to ensure the building of a more formidable team that will not only qualify for the World cup but will surpass the achievements of their predecessors in previous World Cups.
"We are mindful of the fact that poor planning and a lack of adequate preparation can derail our efforts to qualify for and participate effectively in these and other competitions," he said.
He said government would roll-out a number of policies such as the provision of incentives, re-invigoration of traditional inter-school and college sports competition and the completion of the Cape Coast sports stadium among others, to help unearth and develop sporting talents to feed the various National teams.
He said National Sports Authority would also be restructured and re-oriented to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness in the discharge of its mandate, while ensuring the development of the lesser known sporting disciplines among others.
He mentioned that government had fashioned out comprehensive programmes including a GH¢10 million Youth Jobs and Enterprise Development Fund, which would be launched to encourage and support young people to become successful entrepreneurs and create sustainable job opportunities.
The programme would also ensure the establishment of job and enterprise Centres (JEC) in all regions to help unemployed youth and those about to enter or prepare for the world of work, develop Youth Recreation Centres in districts to facilitate youth meetings, interactions, cultural programs, conferences and inputs into district assemblies' deliberative mechanisms.
Again, it would continue with the Young Achievers Awards, which was introduced last year to institute and encourage young achievers.
President Mahama did not leave out the achievement of the Savannah Development Authority (SADA) as key component of its agricultural drive to support vulnerable groups, citing its tremendous impact on agro processing in various communities in the Northern part of the country.
He said currently the Produce Buying Company was raising the capital to begin sheanut purchases to feed the factory at Buipe.
He said last year, SADA supported 6,000 farming families and another 16,000 farmers this year with farm inputs, including fertilizers, improved seeds and provided 100 tractors for land preparation services.
According to the President, SADA through its greening the Northern Savannah ecological zone agenda, had partnered with a private sector group to grow and nurture five million trees in the next 12 months.
He concluded on the fact that based on the example of SADA, he had directed a team in his office and the NDPC to work closely with the two Regional Coordinating Councils and relevant stakeholders towards establishing the Western Corridor Development Authority (WACDA), comprising of Western and Central regions.
He said the implementation framework for WACDA was currently under development.