Greater Accra Regional Forum On  Ghana’s  Long-Term  Development  Plan: A Recount  Of Some Critical Observations And Remarks

It is indeed gratifying to know that after several years of largely ad hoc and fire fighting approach to developmental issues of the nation,the people of Ghana, led by the National Development Planning Commission have finally shown determination to draw a long-term(40-year national development plan) to provide direction to governments,leaders,civil society,the international community,the citizenry and other stakeholders on the “the future that the nation want”.

Considering the work done so far by the NDPC,there is no doubt that the final plan can be even comparable to the Guggisberg and Nkrumah plans or surpass them.

The Greater Accra Region,host to the national capital was privileged to also host the last of regional consultations on the subject in 2015.

It was on the whole a successful exercise but the following observations and remarks made by key personalities and other participants should be of particular interest to Ghanaians who are sincerely in support of the plan.

The first and foremost of such issues is the observation by the Directpr-General of the NDPC Dr.Nii Moi Thompson that the legitimacy of the plan and its sustainability, in terms of political will for continuity in implementation by governments is largely a function of the level of inclusiveness and representation of the various segments of the Ghanaian people in the process.

It is against this background that the profile of representatives groups at the Greater Accra event raised some concerns among key personalities at the forum.

It was for instance observed by some traditional authorities present that students, and for that matter the youth were represented largely by elitist schools which specifically include Achimota School,Achimota,Presbyterian Boys Senior High School,Legon,Accra Academy,Bubuashie ,St.Mary’s Senior High School,Korle Gonno and arguably the only less elitist school, Accra Girls Senior High School,Maabobi.

A glance through the names and locations of these schools including special schools that participated in the programme such as,Dzorwulu Special School also brings to the fore the tendency of policy makers,planners and even sector heads to limit the definition of the Greater Accra Region to the city of Accra.

Otherwise,at least a school like Amasaman Senior High School,Osudoku Senior High and Technical School,Prampram and Ningo Senior High School, among several others,could have been added to the list to ensure that the region is truly represented as stated by the Director-General of the commission.

The call for the harmonization and integration of all existing development plans of various institutions in the country into the long term National Development Plan is apt.There is no doubt that some institutions have very brilliant development plans,the incorporation of which will result in a comprehensive and effective long term plan for the nation.

This will also relieve the commission of the task of planning everything from the scratch since most of these institutions already have documented these plans.

A very sensitive yet critical issue that came to the fore is the issue of co-operation on the part of political parties in the planning process and the implementation of the plan.

To an appreciable extent,the various political parties have demonstrated co-operation in the planning process so far, but one cannot say the same in the its implementation.

In a country where political expediency takes precedence over principles and procedures it will surely take a Jeremiah to convince the people of Ghana that successive Governments will comply with the terms of the plan.

Perhaps,the assurance by the commission that it will take the necessary steps to secure legal backing for the plan,and make it binding on all Ghanaians is the only hope of ensuring its survival within the forty-year period.

The Foundation for Youth,Peace and Development(FYPD) wishes the commission well and hopes that the turbulence of the activities of political parties toward this year’s election will not overshadow its work and possibly sink it into oblivion.

JOSEPH TETTEH
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FOUNDATION FOR YOUTH,PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT(FYPD)
0244571090.
E-MAIL:[email protected]