The ‘Vision 2020’ document structured by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration with a “Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS)” has been replaced by the NPP government.
The business community has therefore been advised to refer to the new document in all their transactions, especially with their foreign partners. Minister for Economic Planning and Regional Integration, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom says the GRPS is being finalized as the official policy framework for poverty reduction between the year 2002 and 2004.
Already, a review of the document has been completed at the national level by Municipal and District Assemblies, non-governmental organizations, labour and civil society groups including academia and professional bodies. Dr Nduom explained that the ‘Vision 2020’ document lacked linkages between its target and the national budget.
Speaking at a Greater Accra regional consultation seminar on the GPRS, Dr Nduom said the vision 2020 document did not have specific costs. The NPP government therefore found difficulty in implementing it successfully. The consultation seminar was part of government’s strategy to get the views of all stakeholders on how the GPRS should be done.
On the cost of the strategy, Dr Nduom said consultations were ongoing and hoped that the value would be arrived at soon. Government will then decide on whether to source funds from the national budget, donors or funds derived from the HIPC initiative.
