Poverty still high in Ghana- Professor

Professor Richard Joseph, a distinguished scholar on Africa Affairs has noted that one out of three Ghanaians still live in poverty.

He, therefore, called for a sustained high economic growth to achieve economic development in Ghana and Africa as a whole.

“Ghana should be able to attract sustainable private investment needed to accelerate economic growth and lift millions of Ghanaians out of poverty.”

Professor Joseph made the observation at the third “Kronti ne Akwamu” Lecture organized by the Centre for Democratic Development on: “Ghana and Democratic Development in Africa”.

The lecture, which was chaired by Joseph Henry Mensah, Former Senior Minister, was also dubbed the special jubilee edition and brought together politicians, students and non-Ghanaians, who shared their thoughts on democratic development in Africa.

Professor Joseph, who is also the Director, Programme of African Studies at the Northwestern University, United States, said that the international community was willing to support a sustained economic growth, acknowledging that Africans had a lot to contribute to the process of poverty eradication.

He lauded the “Joseph Project” created by the Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations as a well thought activity to commemorate the 50th independence anniversary celebration.

While acknowledging the important gains made in the country during the past 15 years in consolidating a constitutional democracy, Professor Joseph noted that certain factors still impeded Ghana's transition to a fast-developing nation such as education and health care facilities, which he said were inadequate.

He stressed the need to promote an institution-building culture that would strengthen State and non governmental organizations so that a democratic development would be facilitated in a broad sense.

The Professor of Political Science further proposed a development plan entitled: “Ghana 2017” which listed educational and health revolutions; a cultural renaissance; expanding private capital investment and establishing Ghana as a model of democratic development among instruments that would provide Ghana with the political kingdom of a capable State, a responsive democratic system and a dynamic employment generating economy.

Professor Emmanuel Gyimah Boadi, Executive Director of CDD, said the annual lecture on democracy and governance was one of the centres initiative aimed towards bridging the gap between reflection, research and analysis on one hand and pro-democracy and good governance on the other, thus enriching public discourse on democratic and governance reforms.

Source: GNA