Nduom meets Ghanaians in Diaspora

Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) has held a series of meetings with Ghanaians on the charting of a new vision to regulate and guide the development of the nation.

The meetings which were held in London, Berlin and Washington DC between August 10 and August 14, were to elicit the views and suggestions of Ghanaians which would serve as a vital inputs for forging a long term vision to guide national development.

According to Dr Nduom, who is also the Minister of Economic Planning and Regional Co-operation similar efforts at involving Ghanaians in the Diaspora in the crafting of this new vision would be undertaken in Pretoria, South Africa at the end of this month.

He pointed out that the decision to involve Ghanaians outside the country in this exercise represented efforts by the government to broaden and deepen consultations with Ghanaians of all walks of life who have a collective stake in the development and progress of the nation.

The NDPC Chairman also indicated that the new vision envisaged would also draw useful lessons from previous development plans and programmes the country had undertaken since 1951.

?The plan that would be developed from the new vision would be presented to Parliament by the end of December this year in fulfilment for President J.A.Kufuor to deliver his development plan by the end of his second year in office? he stressed.

Dr Nduom also indicated that consultations were already underway in all the ten regions of the country to give the opportunity to Ghanaians across the country the opportunity to contribute to the shaping of this vision.

?The team from the NDPC has already been to the Western, Volta, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions?, he said adding that the rest of the regions would be covered this week.

The NDPC chairman said these regional meetings would feature traditional rulers, religious bodies, Labour unions, the private sector, students political parties, the media and other sections of society.

Dr Nduom further explained that the active involvement of Ghanaians abroad in the making of such important decision for the first time stem from the recognition of the positive contribution they make to the economy as well as the coming into effect of the dual citizenship law and the prospect of allowing them to vote for the first time in national elections.

He explained what the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) meant, what influenced government to adopt it and what it was intended to achieve within the short and medium terms for the nation.

The participants on their part commended the government for consulting and directly involving them in shaping policies that have far-reaching implications for the destiny of the nation and called for the sustenance of such acts of co-operation for the benefit of the nation.

The participants agreed among others on governments strategy and priorities to reduce poverty and to reaching a GDP per capita of $1,000 through hard work and for government not to get involved in private sector business directly. They also agreed on the need for an effective centre to cater for the needs of Ghanaians in the Diaspora, for the improvements in education and health and the equipping of the security to perform.

The minister of Finance and the Governor of the Bank of Ghana participated in the London Meeting.