Policy Fair opens Tuesday, will propel Ghana's dev't – Okudzeto Ablakwa

The government has spurned suggestions that the 2nd Ghana Policy Fair scheduled to run from April 26 to 30 is but only a clever propaganda gimmick, insisting the project will propel the country's development in tremendous ways.

Speaking to journalists at the Ghana International Conference Centre where preparations are at their zenith for the 2nd Ghana Policy Fair, a Deputy Information Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the fair was designed to give Ghanaians a rare access to information that will help them plan and contribute to the attainment of a better Ghana.

He said far from propaganda, the fair was designed to focus on development issues beyond the ruling National Democratic Congress government.

The fair is an exhibition of programmes and projects undertaken by the various ministries, departments and agencies and the policy directions underpinning them.

According to Mr Ablakwa, all ministers, department heads and chief directors will be available to answer questions from Ghanaians about the projects they are undertaking, the rationale for those projects and if there are problems, why those problems exist.

“This is the best opportunity the citizenry have to get an understanding of what government agencies are doing, what the future is, what projections are being made, and if there are delays in projects, what caused the delays,” he said.

Rare Opportunity












A photo exhibition of projects at the fair

For instance, farmers and people interested in farming can through the fair, find out from the Agric Ministry, the support systems available to them in terms of say, tractors, improved seedlings, fertilisers and other farm inputs and how to apply for the support, he said.

Without the fair, very few Ghanaians, he surmised, can have access to such critical information.

Mr Ablakwa said the fair was in furtherance of the NDC government's belief in transparency and accountability.

The Public Relations Officer of the Tamale Teaching Hospital which has a stand at the fair said the hospital has very many important feats it needs to exhibit and explain to the public.

Gabriel Nii Otu Ankrah said the hospital had acquired a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), a system for producing electronic pictures of the organs of the human body using radio waves and a strong magnetic field, which will help the hospital deliver better healthcare services.

Story by Malik Abass Daabu/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana