Discussions on Ghana’s development agenda stirred up interest amongst discussants from diverse fields who expressed eagerness at a forum to debate challenges facing the country and proffer lasting solutions.

The Drolor Centre for Strategic Leadership of the University of Professional Studies, Accra on Thursday hosted the symposium on the theme: “Ghana’s Development Agenda: 58 years of independence, how and how not.”

Discussants delved into myriad of national issues ranging from finding solutions to the current power crisis, developing a long-term national development plan and the strategic leadership required to push forward the national agenda of improving lives of the people.

The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Ibrahim Murtala, raised objections to comparing the country’s growth fortunes to the Asian tigers, such as Malaysia, which has moved to improve its economy tremendously.

Mr Murtala described such assessment as fundamentally and intellectually flawed, saying that, Malaysia did not experience the bitterness of military takeovers which nearly sunk Ghana into abyss after independence.

He noted that short term development plans devised to solve national challenges, like the energy crisis at hand was not helpful, and therefore advocated the adoption of long term development plans and solutions to address national problems.

The 2012 Presidential candidate of the Convention People’s Party, Dr Abu Sakara, suggested the extension of the presidential four-year term to six years for consistent execution of development plans.

“I am proposing that we Ghanaians knowing the low responsiveness we have in our political system should adopt a six-year term of office for the president,” he said.

Dr Sakara condemned what he termed as gross mismanagement and abuse of the public purse, attributing it to the cause of the woes of the country, adding that, such acts should be nibbed in the bud.

Mr Kwesi Pratt Jnr, Managing Editor of the Insight News Paper expressed worry that Ghana’s natural resources were being exploited by foreigners.

The leadership centre of the university seeks to bring leaders, policy makers, academia, industry, civil society organisations, educationists, media, the informal sector, students and other key stakeholders to a conference to brainstorm on national concerns and to recommend strategic interventions.