New Economy policy must address Ghana’s skills gap and import dependence – Sam Okudzeto

Private legal practitioner and statesman Sam Okudzeto has called for a non-partisan national approach to Ghana’s economic transformation, arguing that weaknesses in technical education, research and local production could undermine efforts to attract investment.

He said the country must address these structural challenges if the government’s proposed $10 billion New Economy Policy is to create jobs and deliver sustainable economic growth.

The statesman made the remarks on Accra-based TV3’s New Day show on Thursday, October 22, during a discussion on the policy and the country’s economic development.

“We need a national outlook, politics aside, so that we can all think together and identify what went wrong. Ghana was the envy of all nations after independence, but now we are lagging behind,” he said.

The statesman argued that attracting investors to sectors such as agriculture, tourism and vehicle manufacturing would require a workforce with the technical skills needed to operate and sustain industries.

He expressed concern about what he described as inadequate research institutions and weaknesses in the country’s technical and tertiary education systems.

He observed that investors would be reluctant to establish factories if they could not find suitably qualified workers.

Sam Okudzeto also questioned the emphasis successive governments had placed on establishing universities, arguing that expanding tertiary institutions alone would not guarantee the practical skills and expertise required to drive industrialisation.

He called for a reassessment of Ghana’s economic priorities, pointing to the country’s dependence on imported rice as an indication of the challenges facing domestic food production.

According to him, Ghana should be working towards self-sufficiency in food production rather than relying heavily on imports from countries such as Vietnam and Thailand.

The government’s proposed New Economy Policy is intended to move Ghana beyond economic stabilisation towards increased production, job creation and wealth generation.

President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to invest US$10 billion over five years in nine priority sectors, with an estimated US$2 billion allocated annually.