According to him, a broad public consultations was held across all the (10) regions as part of efforts to help solicit opinions from its stakeholders towards the long term development policy framework by focusing on aspirations and policies for social, economic, environmental, and institutional transformation of Ghana in one generation.
Briefing Journalists on the successful completion of First Phase of the National Consultations for the 40-year development plan for the country in Accra, Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, explained that the long term development plan is a series of 10 medium-term plans 4 years each, that will be prepared by successive governments after the current medium term plan, GSGDA II (2014-2017) .
“We have already had 5 of such plans since the 4th Republic, namely:
-Vision 2020 -First Step (5years but effectively 3 due to delays)
-Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (4years; condition for accessing HIPC money.
-Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (4years; de- emphasises social spending; focuses on growth)
– Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda I: Combines growth with equity
– Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda II : Continuation of GSGDA I,” he explained.
According to him, most of the development challenges still facing Ghana as a country, such as infrastructure deficits and service delivery deficiencies are structural in nature.”
This he said, requires a long-term view which is far longer than the 4 or 8 years that is currently the norm for the government.
He emphasized that, the long- term plan will accommodate both the continuity required for a long-term view of the national development and the change that occurs every 4years at the ballot box.
“It is a win-win for all political parties and for all Ghanaians,” he added.
The plan, he said, took into consideration tertiary enrollment ratio, because it was critical in developing the human resource to transform the economy.
He said currently, the tertiary enrolment ratio was 12 percent and added that the nation should aspire to work towards reaching about 90 per cent of the ratio.
According to him, none of the medium-plans of recent years set this important indicator as a target for the transformation of the tertiary education in Ghana.
However, he tasked all Journalists to endeavour to educate Ghanaians on the importance of the Plan since it is indicative plan which would give the government an indication of how the country should be.
By: Isaac Kofi Dzokpo/NewsGhana.com.gh
