Prof Stephen Adei, Chairman, National Development Planning Commission
Professor Stephen Adei, the Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), has called on Ghanaians to help develop the strategic national frameworks that are needed for both long and medium-term development of the country.
He said despite the fact that Ghana has made some considerable progress in its development agenda through its medium and long term development plans, its growth has neither translated into any appreciable change in the lives of many nor reduced inequalities in the country.
Prof Adei made the appeal at the NDPC's second National Development Forum (NDF) in Accra.
The Forum, on the theme: “Modernising Infrastructure for Accelerated Development: The Ghana Infrastructure Plan”, sought to explore the prospects of significantly enhancing the infrastructure base of the country, as would be commensurate with the long-term vision of a solidly developed nation.
The Commission initiated the monthly development forum in May 2019, to ensure sustained interest and broad support of Ghanaians around key developmental issues, engage the public on development policy, and promote ownership and accountability for the implementation of national priorities.
Prof Adei said: "The decision has been taken by the Commission that the Commission should organise an intellectual discussion of pertinent development issues of Ghana at least once a month."
"It is something that my fellow Commissioners are very passionate about, that there must be something to engage all of us.
We want to create a new NDPC in which Ghanaians of all shades will own as their institution because we will be working for the welfare of this country."
He said the new Commission that took over inherited a drafted 40-year plan, and they were working on a national infrastructure plan. We think that it is our duty to take them up, work with them and publicize what needs to be done so that they form the foundation of our work".
The Chairman noted that countries with significant success in development and growth were those that had had long-term development perspectives and pursued them with vigour and consistency.
Mr Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi, Member of Parliament (MP) for Odotobri and the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Mines and Energy Committee lauded the Commissioners for the work done so far.
He said national development was the responsibility of all.
Mr Kwame Agbodza, MP for Adarklu and a member of Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transport, said he was not aware of any country that could develop without investment in the necessary infrastructure.
He called for value for money in project execution in the country to ensure its judicious utilisation.
Mr Charles K. Boakye, an official of the Institute for Infrastructure Development, said Ghana had reached its limit on hydro-energy and there is the need to look into other areas such as renewable energy for electricity generation.
Prof Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, former Vice-Chancellor, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, who chaired the function, said the NDF was a very good initiative, which must be sustained.
He urged the Commission to rotate the Forum around the country, since the stakeholder engagement was everybody’s concern.
