Statement by PNC at the Western Regional Consultative Forum
1 STATEMENT BY THE PEOPLE’S NATIONAL CONVENTION (PNC) Delivered by George Agulijam Date: 19th November 2015 Venue: Kingstel Hotel, Takoradi -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Good morning Mr. Chairman, Nananom, all protocols duly observed. Fifty-eight years after independence and over 22 years into fourth republican constitutional rule, the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) has found it necessary to facilitate a process of putting in place a long-term development plan that re-energises our strategic thinking to transform this country. This is a very laudable idea and the PNC believes that it is late, but we thank God we have started doing something. We as a party support a long-term development plan because that is the only way we can have direction and that is the only we can determine where we intend going. We have a clear position on the way forward. We believe in long-term planning and we will therefore provide the needed support for the process. We are also happy with the participatory and inclusive approach, consulting all stakeholders across board to put in place a long-term development plan that will reflect the aspirations and development interests of the people of Ghana. We also endorse the team-building spirit and the support that NDPC has provided ever since we started collaborating on this process. We are very positive this process will lead to the preparation of a comprehensive long-term development plan to transform this nation such that some of us will see this country developing before we enter our graves. We have wasted so much time as a country. As a party, what we cannot guarantee is the determination, boldness and political will to implement the long-term development plan by the government. We have all seen, over the past 23 years, the approach to development by the two key political parties. Are we happy with it? The only way the PNC can guarantee genuine and sustainable transformation and implementation of this plan is if the PNC is voted into power. We believe a long-term development plan is not a panacea for socioeconomic transformation, because development literature reveals that many more plans have fallen flat than the successes stories we have seen. We have gone on and on about South Korea, REGIONAL CONSULTATION ON THE LONG-TERM NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Statement by PNC ©NDPC, 2015
2 Malaysia and so on. But many more plans have failed than those that are successful. The success of a plan is about who is managing it and whether the person has the right discipline to ensure that Ghanaians get what they want. There are a good number of factors that can favour success in a long-term development plan, but the PNC will zero in on only a few of them for now for lack of time. These are what we call the categorical development imperatives for the transformation of this country. These include: Our attitudes towards a new order of transformation after 58 wasted years. Discipline with regard to the principles of a long-term development plan. Commitment and dedication by the leadership to transform our country and enhance hunger to achieve the goals of this country. Anytime we come together on this platform, meaning the NDPC space, our differences as political parties have always diminished and our collective identity and party orientation becomes at one with NDPC. Mr. Chairman, we must not fail this country, let us change our attitudes, let us be more disciplined. Let’s enhance our sense of commitment and selflessness and achievement now. This is the only way we can be proud in the next 40 years as Ghanaians. God bless everybody here and God bless the development process. Thank you very much.
REGIONAL CONSULTATION ON THE LONG-TERM NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Statement by PNC ©NDPC, 2015
2 Malaysia and so on. But many more plans have failed than those that are successful. The success of a plan is about who is managing it and whether the person has the right discipline to ensure that Ghanaians get what they want. There are a good number of factors that can favour success in a long-term development plan, but the PNC will zero in on only a few of them for now for lack of time. These are what we call the categorical development imperatives for the transformation of this country. These include: Our attitudes towards a new order of transformation after 58 wasted years. Discipline with regard to the principles of a long-term development plan. Commitment and dedication by the leadership to transform our country and enhance hunger to achieve the goals of this country. Anytime we come together on this platform, meaning the NDPC space, our differences as political parties have always diminished and our collective identity and party orientation becomes at one with NDPC. Mr. Chairman, we must not fail this country, let us change our attitudes, let us be more disciplined. Let’s enhance our sense of commitment and selflessness and achievement now. This is the only way we can be proud in the next 40 years as Ghanaians. God bless everybody here and God bless the development process. Thank you very much.
REGIONAL CONSULTATION ON THE LONG-TERM NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Statement by PNC ©NDPC, 2015
