Nduom Calls for Media Participation in National Economic Dialogue

THE MINISTER for Economic Planning and Regional Integration, Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, has called on the media to participate in the review session of National Economic Dialogue in order to assess how far the various stakeholders have been working towards the implementation of the document.

This, he said, is a significant step that should go a long way to entrench the use of the consensus approach to accelerate the growth of the national economy.

Addressing participants from the various organisations at the review session of the document, in Accra , he observed that the presentations made at last year's annual review session indicated that while many of the recommendations were implemented, others needed more time to be implemented.

In addition, he said new issues have been captured in this year's action plan, notably financial, private sector and economic sector recommendations, which are to make stakeholders work harder than ever before.

He also noted that the year's dialogue has 12 recommendations whose implementation would make a great impact on country's development. Contained in the recommendations are that one stop shop for the clearing for the clearing of goods at the port would be created as simplified processes would also be taken in the acquisition of land in the country.

In order to bait more investors into the country, a participant at the workshop suggested that the illegal process of acquiring land in the country must be checked.

He also called on the need to educate the chiefs on how to sell lands to people. A representative from the Lands Commission, Mr. Appiah Adu, said the commission has implemented a policy scheme to check on these things.

On tourism, a representative from the Ministry of Tourism said tourist attraction sites and supporting facilities have been developed to help boost the tourism sector.

He said the ministry will also ensure that tourists are in a safe and friendly environment so that the number of tourists visiting the country is increased.

Touching on Information Technology( IT), Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng , a Co-ordinator of the National Economic Dialogue, said plans are far advanced by the government to establish a school of excellence where people will be given lectures on information technology.

Also, he said it is establishing programmes that target the identified IT fields in the export industry.

Continuing, he said the registration of shops and businesses is in progress and therefore called on stakeholders to register their business in order to help boost the trade industry.