In order to ensure effective participation of all citizens in the execution of a common National Development Plan, the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) is currently holding consultative meetings with all relevant stakeholders to collate different shades of opinions to inform the preparation of a workable National Development Plan for all.
The consultation is necessitated by the need for a successor medium term-term National Development Policy Framework, the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda (GSGDA II), 2014-2017 to replace (GSGDA I), 2010-2113 that has been in operation since 2010.
Among the several stakeholders being consulted are Professional bodies, Political Parties, Civil Society Organizations and Religious bodies.
Others include the Private Sector, Parliament, Academia, Council of State, Research Institutions, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assembles (MMDAs), Women and People Living With Disabilities and the Media.
Speaking at a meeting with representatives of political parties in Accra, the Director General of the NDPC, Dr Regina O Adutwum emphasized the need for the engagement to ensure a participatory policy for National Development.
The Development Policy Framework she said provides the basis for the implantation of the annual National Budgets, a vehicle for the operationalization of the Presidents vision and tool for donor partners to assist the country.
The Director General assured that the framework would provide a guideline for MMDAs to develop their own specific development Plans and implementation of objectives for the achievement of tangible results for the progress of the nation.
Participants called for policy direction to enhance local governance and decentralization, where the people are given the chance to elect their Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives to ensure accountability.
They also advocated for a change in attitudes for the effective implantation of the GSDDA II policy proposals and several others that have been left on the shelves unattended to help solve Ghana’s development challenges.
The Consultative meetings are discussing thematic policy proposal areas of;
Ensuring and Sustaining Macroeconomic Stability, Enhancing the Competitiveness of the Private Sector, Accelerate Agricultural Transformation and Sustainable Natural Resource Management and Oil and Gas Development.
The rest are; Infrastructure and Human Settlement Development, Human Development, Productivity and Employment and Transparent and Accountable Governance.
These thematic areas are aligned to governments’ four strategic pillars of medium-term national development agenda of Investing in People, A Strong and Resilience Economy, Expanding Infrastructure and Transparent and Accountable Governance.
The GSGDA II (2014-2017) Policy Framework is expected to sustain the gains and address the challenges achieved during the implementation of GSGDA I 92010-2013).
The strategic direction of the GSGDA II is therefore aimed at leveraging Ghana`s natural resource endowments and harness and augment her agriculture potential effectively using modern methods of farming and ensuring value addiction especially in the area of manufacturing.
It is also expected to provide the matrix for maximizing the human resource base of the country through science and technology, for economic growth and job creation for better standards of living.
The private sector is expected to play a pivotal role in the realization of the GSGDA II agenda with the sole objective to create ”a stable, united, inclusive and prosperous country with opportunities for all”.
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