National Development Planning Commission
Presenting their vision of Ghana in 2057, youth from three schools in the Northern Region have called for attitudinal change in Ghana, equitable and judicious distribution of resources and a transformed multi-party democratic political system devoid of partisanship.
This was during the 17th-18th October, 2015, consultations held in Tamale by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), towards the preparation of a national long-term plan. The series of regional consultations began in Kumasi (Ashanti Region, 13th-14th August,2015) and Bolgatanga (Upper East Region, 10th-11th September, 2015) and will be held in all other regions before ending in Accra.
The youth envisaged Ghana as a highly industrialised exporter of finished products, with a highly mechanised and productive agricultural sector, as well as fully staffed and equipped teaching hospitals in all regional capitals providing quality health care.
Drawn from Tamale Girls Senior High School, Tamale Senior High School and Ghana Senior High School, they insisted there must be continuity in development plans which, with prudent policies and hard work,would transform Ghana.
The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna, commended NDPC for the national consultation initiative. He said a long-term plan was long overdue and that its absence was “the main reason why our development efforts have been largely fragmented, incoherent and abysmal in some cases."
He declared peace and security as his topmost priority and prerequisite for development in the Northern Region. "We bear a lot of scars as a region from periodic conflicts and we have paid a heavy price in terms of retarded progress and development."
The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna, commended NDPC for the national consultation initiative. He said a long-term plan was long overdue and that its absence was “the main reason why our development efforts have been largely fragmented, incoherent and abysmal in some cases."
He declared peace and security as his topmost priority and prerequisite for development in the Northern Region. "We bear a lot of scars as a region from periodic conflicts and we have paid a heavy price in terms of retarded progress and development."
The Sagnari Naa, Yakubu Abdulai, who graced the occasion shared his vision and prescribed a nation devoid of hunger, sickness, illiteracy and corruption. A Ghana where we see ourselves as one people serving our nation in freedom and relishing justice for all in equal measure.
According to the Sagnari Naa, within the plan period, we should aspire for a healthier, happier and vibrant citizens living in a homeland environment flourishing with blissful flora and fauna.
The chairman for the forum, Professor Seidu Al-hassan (Northern Region NDPC Representative), said all Ghanaians should participate in the process towards the 40-year national development plan.
He noted that NDPC is leading the process as a facilitator and not as the architect of the plan. The responsibility lies with all Ghanaians, including the people of the Northern Region, to help prepare this all important national development plan.
The Director-General of NDPC, Dr. Nii Moi Thompson said that a critical factor in developing a plan to guide the country’s development for 40 years was to ensure that the plan represents the views and aspirations of people, institutions and identifiable groups throughout Ghana.
He stressed, "We all as Ghanaians, including governments that will be elected within this period, will have to commit themselves to the realisation of the initiatives and programmes of the 40-Year Development Plan. If we don’t make efforts and join the process and keep raising doubts about its feasibility, we will not achieve the development we desire.”
As part of the process, participants from various divides including representatives from the six main political parties that participated in the last general elections; the New Patriotic Party, the National Democratic Congress, the Convention People's Party, the Progressive People's Party, the People's National Convention, and the Great Consolidated Popular Party, met in smaller groups to share and exchange ideas on the long-term national development plan.
