President Kufuor to launch GPRSII next Tuesday

Accra, May 5, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor will launch the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS II), on May 9, 2006 at the Accra International conference Centre, an official statement said on Friday.

The statement issued in Accra by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), said it would be under the theme: "Towards a Middle Income Economy, A New Development Agenda for Ghana" and would be the second generation of government's policy paper on the GPRS. It said the goal of the new Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS II) was to speed up and diversify national development so that Ghana could attain middle-income status within the next decade. As part of the launch, the NDPC is hosting a national symposium on the same day to introduce the roadmap and to begin the re-orientation of all Ghana individuals, businesses and public officials towards the achievement of the set target, according to the statement. The symposium will examine the proposed growth plans of the GPRS II in various sectors and give an opportunity to all participants to contribute ideas to the attainment of the ultimate goals. It said media personnel, as well as the general public who had expertise especially in the following thematic areas, and wish to participate in the event, should contact the Co-ordinator, National Development Planning Commission, Flagstaff House at room D4 or on Tel. No. 773011-13, Ext. 225 or on 020-8140079 for the necessary accreditation.

The areas are agriculture, agri-business and rural development; human resource development for full employment; the private sector contribution to accelerated growth; finance and trade - An Export-led strategy of development and industrialisation, technology and environment.