Aliu lauds recommendations of national economic dialogue

Vice-President Alhaji Aliu Mahama said yesterday night that the government is considering a recommendation by the just ended national economic dialogue to grant social relief to the five impoverished regions.

He said the recommendation would assist the beneficiary regions, the Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Eastern and Central to engage in productive ventures to improve on their lot.

Alhaji Mahama was addressing the closing session of the first national economic dialogue organised by the government in Accra to brainstorm on how to accelerate national economic growth.

The two-day dialogue, officially opened by President John Agyekum Kufuor on Monday, was attended by representatives of the political parties, civil society, the private sector, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other identifiable groups.

It was on the theme: " consensus building for a solid foundation to accelerate national economic growth and development".

The Vice-President also made reference to another recommendation to the government to promote sound management of the fiscal situation to reduce borrowing from the domestic market and the creation of an agricultural commission to encourage investments in the sector.

He called on the stakeholders to be committed to efforts to implement the recommendations. " It is important for all of us to consider that the next two years will be a foundation building and stabilisation period for the economy.

"Therefore, we must all strive for cohesion, understanding and harmony so that we can all have the peace we need to live to enjoy the prosperity that will come after the initial difficult period," he explained.

Alhaji Mahama said the Ministry of Economic Planning and Regional Co-operation will work with the same team that organised the dialogue to summarise the recommendations for implementation.

He said government would convene an annual review session to discuss results achieved from the implementation of the recommendations and make any required changes to the national economic agenda.

Alhaji Mahama suggested the need to compile and publicise the outcome of the dialogue to serve as an economic blue print for the country.

Mr Alan Kyemanteng, Director of Enterprise Africa who chaired the two-day dialogue said the participants have made the necessary suggestions that can give the economy the needed boost.