Ashanti Chief urges MPs to prioritize national policies over party manifestos for economic development

Nana Boakye Yiadom Atonsa II, chief of Denanse, a town along the Kumasi-Offinso road in the Ashanti Region, and Atenehene of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, has urged Ghanaian parliamentarians to prioritize the implementation of a National Policy Concept to ensure effective and sustainable economic development.

In an exclusive interview in Kumasi, Nana Atonsa II expressed dissatisfaction with the country’s reliance on party manifestos, arguing that this approach hinders long-term progress and fosters political manipulation.

According to him, Ghana's development has been stalled for too long due to the absence of a consistent, overarching national policy framework. He lamented that successive governments, except for military regimes, have governed based on party manifestos rather than a unified national strategy, leading to inconsistent policies and limited long-term progress.

This constant shift in focus, he argued, has prevented the country from reaching its full potential.

While acknowledging the existing legal framework and democratic structures, he stressed that the current system allows political parties to prioritize their own supporters and agendas when in power.

This, he believes, results in discrimination in job opportunities and contract awards, which undermines national unity and equitable development.

Nana Atonsa II emphasized that a National Policy Concept would curb such political manipulation. He referenced developed nations, where progress is driven by adherence to long-term national policies that transcend political cycles.

He called for a system where a well-defined national plan ensures continuity, preventing presidents from unilaterally altering developmental trajectories.

"The secret behind the development and progress of the advanced countries stemmed from the fact that they apply National Policy to administer their economies," Nana Atonsa II stated, "and no president has the authority to change it because actions and plans of developing the country are already put in place."

Describing the National Policy Plan as the best option for Ghana’s development, he urged immediate action.

Explaining the crucial role of parliamentarians, he called on them to take the lead in introducing a National Policy Concept and to discourage reliance on partisan manifestos as the primary governance framework.

He referenced the legacy of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah, suggesting that his vision aligned with a national policy approach that had the potential to transform the country. However, he noted that abandoning this direction has contributed to Ghana’s current developmental struggles.

Nana Boakye Yiadom Atonsa II expressed hope that his call for a National Policy Concept would be heeded, as it offers a transformative path for ensuring equitable benefits for all Ghanaians, regardless of political affiliation.

He also believes that adopting this approach will pave the way for sustained economic growth and national prosperity.