Minister Calls For Rise In Income Level

The Minister of Economic Planning and Regional Co-operation, Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom has underscored the need for Ghana to make a "big jump" from the present per capita income of 400 dollars to an ambitious level of 1,000 dollars.

This, he said, would help solve the problem of poverty and lay a strong foundation for a sustainable national development. He said the government’s target is to increase the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita to 1,000 United States dollars within five years, the Ghanaian per capita income should be at least eight million cedis a year in today's terms.

Dr. Ndoum, who is also Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) was addressing the opening session of a day's seminar at Ho to discuss and collate views on the national agenda for poverty reduction and wealth creation.

The seminar, is one of a series being organised nationwide by the NDPC under the theme: "From Poverty Reduction to Wealth Creation-Building Consensus on National Vision and Programme of Action," It reflected the objectives and goals of previous development plans and the country's poverty reduction strategy for 2002-2004.

Dr Ndoum said considering the per capita incomes of Cote D'Ivoire, Gabon, Botswana and Mauritius, which now stand at 700, 4,000 and 3,500 United States dollars respectively, Ghana is capable of improving her per capita income considerably if Ghanaians set ambitious targets for themselves and work hard individually and collectively towards the attainment of higher productivity and excellence. He observed that many people in the country seem content with little achievements and are therefore not working hard enough.

Dr. Ndoum explained that the government's agenda for growth and prosperity are not meant to spite previous plans and programmes but rather to emphasise the fundamental goals of national development and prosperity and strategies for their attainment as captured in such plans.