Statement by NDC at the BA Regional Consultative Forum
1 STATEMENT BY THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (NDC) ON PREPARATION OF THE 40-YEAR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Delivered by Dr. William Ahadzie Date: 12th October, 2015 Venue: Tyco City Hotel, Sunyani ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The National Democratic Congress acknowledges that over the last three decades, governments have implemented different policies that have taken Ghana from a lowincome country to a lower middle-income country. But we note that the efforts have been driven by policy choices that are largely regime-based and essentially disconnected from each other. The growth and development of our country has therefore not been as consistent and sustainable as we would have liked. This, in our view, has led to the persistence of development challenges such as: a) Fiscal deficits; b) Energy deficits; c) Infrastructure deficits; d) A slower pace of decentralisation than anticipated; e) Youth unemployment; f) Persistence of poverty and food insecurity resulting from low agricultural productivity; g) Under-delivery of social services in the face of rapidly growing population; and h) Continuing environmental degradation. We believe that the adoption of sustainable development strategies that will promote policy consistency and the continuation of progress made by different regimes is the best way forward. It is therefore our expectation that this process of long-term planning will lead to: a) A more stable macro-economic environment for sustained national income growth; b) Adequate infrastructure; c) A diversification of sources of energy generation, with more emphasis on renewable energy; d) Modernisation of agriculture leading to increased productivity and food security; e) The deepening of the decentralisation process to guarantee the participation of the broad masses of our people in decision making; REGIONAL CONSULTATION ON THE LONG-TERM NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Statement on Behalf of the NDC ©NDPC, 12th October 2015
2 f) Improved access to more efficiently provided social services (education and health); g) The creation of decent work for the unemployed; h) A more disciplined Ghanaian; and i) The reduction and perhaps an eventual elimination of practices that degrade our natural environment and aid climate change. As a party, we believe that long-term planning (Vision 2020 is evidence of that) will eventually lead to achieving a better Ghana in which lives are changed and the entire society is transformed. It is in this respect that we wish to thank the National Development Planning Commission for extending the invitation to us to participate in these deliberations for the preparation of a long-term development plan for this country. By this statement, we therefore affirm our commitment to work hand-in-glove with NDPC and with our colleagues from the other political parties to formulate the strategies that will address the country’s immediate challenges and long-term national expectations. Indeed, it is these considerations that motivated our leader, President John Dramani Mahama, to launch this new effort at long-term visioning for this country and to call for a more inclusive and participatory approach to this strategic way of a preparing a blueprint for Ghana’s development. We view that call as our guiding principle and we urge all to join us deliver on that mandate. Thank you all and God bless our homeland Ghana.
REGIONAL CONSULTATION ON THE LONG-TERM NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Statement on Behalf of the NDC ©NDPC, 12th October 2015
2 f) Improved access to more efficiently provided social services (education and health); g) The creation of decent work for the unemployed; h) A more disciplined Ghanaian; and i) The reduction and perhaps an eventual elimination of practices that degrade our natural environment and aid climate change. As a party, we believe that long-term planning (Vision 2020 is evidence of that) will eventually lead to achieving a better Ghana in which lives are changed and the entire society is transformed. It is in this respect that we wish to thank the National Development Planning Commission for extending the invitation to us to participate in these deliberations for the preparation of a long-term development plan for this country. By this statement, we therefore affirm our commitment to work hand-in-glove with NDPC and with our colleagues from the other political parties to formulate the strategies that will address the country’s immediate challenges and long-term national expectations. Indeed, it is these considerations that motivated our leader, President John Dramani Mahama, to launch this new effort at long-term visioning for this country and to call for a more inclusive and participatory approach to this strategic way of a preparing a blueprint for Ghana’s development. We view that call as our guiding principle and we urge all to join us deliver on that mandate. Thank you all and God bless our homeland Ghana.
REGIONAL CONSULTATION ON THE LONG-TERM NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Statement on Behalf of the NDC ©NDPC, 12th October 2015
