Is failure in our genes? -J H Mensah

Ghana needs radical performance- J H Mensah

Accra, Oct 17, GNA- Mr Joseph Henry Mensah, Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), on Wednesday advocated radical improvements in the nation's economic performance to propel it to excellent levels of standard of living.

"We have to convert the individual and the communal self-image of the Ghanaian at work from that of the present Third World, low performing, low income Black African, and replace it with a new image of higher standards of performance, new ways of doing things," Mr Mensah said during a lecture in Accra.

The lecture was jointly organised by the Institute of Democratic Governance, a think thank group, and Joy Fm, an Accra-based radio station on the theme; "Ghana 50: Observing African Excellence as Prelude to African Renaissance."

The last in a series of lectures dubbed: Ghana Speaks, the lecture urged Ghanaians to put up performance in all sectors of the economy. Mr Mensah gave Ghana a plus in her governance, but noted that the nation needed, as a first step to reach her emancipation to overcome the hurdle of low expectation.

" In one field endeavour of another the leaders who we put in charge are content simply to maintain past and present levels of performance. They do not sufficiently they do not motivate them or their subordinates to strive for higher standards", Mr Mensah said. He made a strong case for political decentralisation, and public private partnership to make strategic public enterprises more viable. Mr Mensah blamed part of the low levels of performance to the vesting of excessive powers in the presidency, urged Parliament to strengthen its democratic role, image and authority. He emphasised development agenda based on matured, scientific thinking, advocating for Ghanaians to be guided by what he called the " voice of prophecy."

According to Mr Mensah, who is also the Member of Parliament for Sunyani East, on the ticket of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) urged Ghanaians to be confident in themselves and tackle even most of the daring problems in the national life, adding that when that is done it would be discovered that, "all along it was doable, only we did not believe."

"Don't let's be afraid; let's know what it is we want to do, and look for the right kind of money to do it. Dr Joe Abbey, an Economic Consultant, chaired the lecture.