Mahama Calls for a National Forum on the Economy

The Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has stated that the Economic Management Team, together with President John Mahama, has held discussions and agreed that a national forum on the economy be held before the end on June.

According to him “the partisan trend of discussion following the recent statement by the Finance Minister to Parliament on the state of economy to address the problems, as worrying and dangerous since it shifts the focus from the real issues.


The Vice President, said this at the commissioning of a multi-purpose rice processing plant known as the GADCO rice production project, which over 2000 hectares of rice farm is being cultivated with the engagement of some 1,000 small holder farmers in Fievie and surrounding areas in the lower Volta zone at Sogakope in the Volta region.


He said "We need to avoid turning the debate of the future of our economy into a discussion between pressure groups that either issue ultimatum or seek confrontation," .


According to him "There is danger that the discussion can deteriorate into a partisan debate which does not augur well for the nation.


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Vice President Kwesi Amissah Arthur said the best way out of the economic difficulties was not through a partisan debate but for all stakeholders get together to brainstorm for solutiions"It not a blame game,


Adding that because of its complex nature we require dispassionate discussions. So as to reach a consensus on the immediate steps that we need to take to rebalance our economy he stated.


He said a national concensus could be reached if all the stakeholders such as government, labour, political parties, academia, and civil society get together to discuss the issues so that we can guarantee the continue growth of the economy.


The vice president said what the government has tried to do, he explained, was to address the problem and find a way out as more unexpected economic challenges emerge. "This national discussion should be open-minded and be done without pre-conditions," he said.


Already, he said the Finance Minister has started