Regional Consultation on the Longterm National Development Plan
1
Chairman’s Opening Remarks at the Northern Regional Consultation on the Preparation of a Long term National Development Plan for Ghana Delivered by Northern Regional Representative of NDPC, Prof. Seidu Al-hassan
Date: 17th September 2015 Venue: Modern City Hotel, Tamale Honourable Regional Minister, Nanama, The Director-General and staff of NDPC, Fellow Commissioners, Honourable District Chief Executives, Directors, Heads of departments, Representatives of Ghana’s political parties, Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, Friends from the media; It’s a great honour for me to chair this programme. First of all, there are two reasons why we are here. We want to sensitise the people of the Northern Region on the important national programme involving the preparation of the 40-year national development plan. That is the first reason why we are here. It’s been done in the Ashanti Region. It’s been done in the Upper East Region and today it’s the turn of the Northern Region. The second reason is this. We want to consult you to get your aspirations, your dreams, about what you want Ghana to be come 40 years so that we shall be able to prepare a very dependable and cogent plan for the country. Ladies and gentlemen, Let me take this opportunity to congratulate the National Development Planning Commission for this initiative. I think it deserves commendation, and particularly the Director-General, for taking this initiative so that we can arrive at the framework that leads this country forward. Now the question is: why this plan? Honourable Regional Minister, the plan is important for four reasons. We have legal reasons, economic reasons, moral reasons and even REGIONAL CONSULTATION ON THE LONG-TERM NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Chairman’s Opening Remarks in Northern Region ©NDPC, 2015
2 historical reasons. Why am I saying legal reasons? The Constitution of the Republic of Ghana requests this to be done. Even the report of the recent Constitution Review Commission also noted the need for a long-term plan. So for legal purposes we need to have this. Ghanaians in and outside the country have been calling for this plan. So there is moral justification for that. Economically, it is going to serve as a framework with which our leaders will develop this nation. So it is meant for keeping this nation focused on its developmental power. In terms of history, we can relate our own history to the experience of countries like Singapore, Taiwan and Malaysia which clearly shows that development planning can be very useful. Honourable Regional Minister, ladies and gentlemen, Who should prepare the plan, who should design the plan? The answer is very simple. All of us, all Ghanaians; we have stake in it. But let me remind you. NDPC is leading the process and is a facilitator of this whole process with a legal mandate as the apex body for planning in Ghana. We have heard people ask, where are we going to get the money for this? Do we have the human capacity to do this? Are we sure that when this plan is put in place, subsequent governments will continue it? And why is it that we want to plan if the plans we have already prepared have all failed us? These are genuine issues. They are genuine concerns. But I can tell you that this does not prevent us from moving forward. Let us give this a try. And then we shall succeed. Ladies and gentlemen, Let me conclude by reminding you of three important things that we need to do. Indeed my experience based on participation in Commission meetings in Accra and in the international launch as well as the Upper East public forum and even having been part of the preparations towards today’s meeting, I can tell you that almost every Ghanaian thinks that this plan is necessary. The reason is this: we are all of the opinion that it is the only way we can have this nation transformed. Transformation is based on this plan. We are not going to over-simplify this process. It is not going to be an easy thing and we don’t have to sit back and think that we know it all. Nobody knows it all. The DirectorGeneral of NDPC has already hammered on the issues that can help us drive this process. Talk about quality human capital, talk about a decent public sector, remember infrastructure, remember land reforms and also science, technology and innovation. Something very dear to my heart is what he terms attitudinal change. Ladies and gentlemen, I want to end by thanking you all for coming and I want to encourage you to give your best during the discussions. Dream it well, plan it and do it. I wish you fruitful deliberations. Thank you very much. REGIONAL CONSULTATION ON THE LONG-TERM NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Chairman’s Opening Remarks in Northern Region ©NDPC, 2015
Chairman’s Opening Remarks at the Northern Regional Consultation on the Preparation of a Long term National Development Plan for Ghana Delivered by Northern Regional Representative of NDPC, Prof. Seidu Al-hassan
Date: 17th September 2015 Venue: Modern City Hotel, Tamale Honourable Regional Minister, Nanama, The Director-General and staff of NDPC, Fellow Commissioners, Honourable District Chief Executives, Directors, Heads of departments, Representatives of Ghana’s political parties, Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, Friends from the media; It’s a great honour for me to chair this programme. First of all, there are two reasons why we are here. We want to sensitise the people of the Northern Region on the important national programme involving the preparation of the 40-year national development plan. That is the first reason why we are here. It’s been done in the Ashanti Region. It’s been done in the Upper East Region and today it’s the turn of the Northern Region. The second reason is this. We want to consult you to get your aspirations, your dreams, about what you want Ghana to be come 40 years so that we shall be able to prepare a very dependable and cogent plan for the country. Ladies and gentlemen, Let me take this opportunity to congratulate the National Development Planning Commission for this initiative. I think it deserves commendation, and particularly the Director-General, for taking this initiative so that we can arrive at the framework that leads this country forward. Now the question is: why this plan? Honourable Regional Minister, the plan is important for four reasons. We have legal reasons, economic reasons, moral reasons and even REGIONAL CONSULTATION ON THE LONG-TERM NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Chairman’s Opening Remarks in Northern Region ©NDPC, 2015
2 historical reasons. Why am I saying legal reasons? The Constitution of the Republic of Ghana requests this to be done. Even the report of the recent Constitution Review Commission also noted the need for a long-term plan. So for legal purposes we need to have this. Ghanaians in and outside the country have been calling for this plan. So there is moral justification for that. Economically, it is going to serve as a framework with which our leaders will develop this nation. So it is meant for keeping this nation focused on its developmental power. In terms of history, we can relate our own history to the experience of countries like Singapore, Taiwan and Malaysia which clearly shows that development planning can be very useful. Honourable Regional Minister, ladies and gentlemen, Who should prepare the plan, who should design the plan? The answer is very simple. All of us, all Ghanaians; we have stake in it. But let me remind you. NDPC is leading the process and is a facilitator of this whole process with a legal mandate as the apex body for planning in Ghana. We have heard people ask, where are we going to get the money for this? Do we have the human capacity to do this? Are we sure that when this plan is put in place, subsequent governments will continue it? And why is it that we want to plan if the plans we have already prepared have all failed us? These are genuine issues. They are genuine concerns. But I can tell you that this does not prevent us from moving forward. Let us give this a try. And then we shall succeed. Ladies and gentlemen, Let me conclude by reminding you of three important things that we need to do. Indeed my experience based on participation in Commission meetings in Accra and in the international launch as well as the Upper East public forum and even having been part of the preparations towards today’s meeting, I can tell you that almost every Ghanaian thinks that this plan is necessary. The reason is this: we are all of the opinion that it is the only way we can have this nation transformed. Transformation is based on this plan. We are not going to over-simplify this process. It is not going to be an easy thing and we don’t have to sit back and think that we know it all. Nobody knows it all. The DirectorGeneral of NDPC has already hammered on the issues that can help us drive this process. Talk about quality human capital, talk about a decent public sector, remember infrastructure, remember land reforms and also science, technology and innovation. Something very dear to my heart is what he terms attitudinal change. Ladies and gentlemen, I want to end by thanking you all for coming and I want to encourage you to give your best during the discussions. Dream it well, plan it and do it. I wish you fruitful deliberations. Thank you very much. REGIONAL CONSULTATION ON THE LONG-TERM NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Chairman’s Opening Remarks in Northern Region ©NDPC, 2015
