Second Ghana Policy Fair opens in Accra

Accra, April 26, GNA - The second Ghana Policy Fair to showcase policies, projects and activities of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) opened in Accra on Tuesday. The fair on the theme: 93Empowering the People As We Build A Better Ghana," was to afford the citizenry the chance to interact, made inputs or critique about government policies to expedite Ghana's development.

The five-day fair will create the platform for dialogue between policy makers, implementers and the citizenry.

Vice President John Dramani Mahama, who opened the fair said it would provide opportunity for many Ghanaians to learn about the policies and activities of State institutions.

He urged Ghanaians to take interest in policies of MMDAs by offering suggestions and ideas to improve on their activities. Vice President Mahama explained that the dialogue sessions would be the important aspect during the fair and implored the public especially the private sector to participate to bring their ideas on board.

He reiterated government's commitment to run a transparent and accountable government by making the fair an annual affair. Mr John Tia Akologu, Minister of Information, said the fair was a clear demonstration of President Mills commitment to afford the citizenry an opportunity to make direct assessment of government policies, projects and programmes.

He said the theme was chosen to reflect efforts of government in creating the enabling environment through harnessing the potentials of the people for national development.

Mr Akologu noted that last year's fair was successful because there were suggestions from the people to replicate it to other regions and even beyond Ghana's borders.

"In organising this year's policy fair, we have taken into consideration, suggestions that were made last year. I am happy to announce that budgetary allocation has been made to take the fair to three regions this year," he said.

He said they were Volta, Ashanti and Northern Regions and expressed the hope that other regions would be catered for when funds were available.

Mr Akologu said currently government was negotiating with the World Bank and the Private Sector Reform Office to raise funds for the purpose.

Dr Tony Aidoo, Head of Policy Evaluation Oversight Unit, Office of the President, said a lot had been achieved over the past 18 months the NDC assumed office and appealed to the MDAs to take advantage of the fair to propagate their policies and projects. He noted that their performance would be meaningless if the citizenry was not aware of their work.

Dr Kofi Amoah, a Private Participant lauded the ideas behind the fair and urged government to sustain it.

He said the Land Title Policy and Land Holding Policy were hindrance to the agricultural sector and appealed to government to review the policies to make them friendly to agriculture and manufacturing.