120-days contract: Mahama forms seven-member committee for National Economic Dialogue

President John Dramani Mahama has established a seven-member National Economic Dialogue (NED) Planning Committee as part of his 120-day social contract with Ghanaians.

The initiative seeks to address Ghana's pressing economic challenges and lay the groundwork for sustainable development.

The committee, led by renowned economist Dr. Ishmael Yamson, has been tasked with organizing a high-level dialogue to foster consultation and consensus on policies critical to transforming Ghana into a high-growth, inclusive, and resilient economy. Members of the committee include Dr. K.Y. Amoako, Professor John Gatsi, Mohammed Samara, Nelly Mireku, Anthony Sarpong, and Ernest De-Graft Egyir. They are expected to submit their report within four weeks.

In a statement released on January 26, 2025, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Acting Spokesperson to the President, outlined the objectives of the NED. These include providing an accurate assessment of Ghana’s economic situation to stakeholders and citizens, facilitating dialogue on the nation’s developmental challenges, and discussing policy trade-offs to build consensus on necessary reforms.

The committee will also design a homegrown fiscal consolidation program to guide the national budget while identifying structural reforms and policy priorities to reset the economy.

The National Economic Dialogue marks a pivotal step toward addressing Ghana's economic challenges, from ensuring fiscal sustainability to achieving structural transformation and resilience.