TARZAN's party says World Bank Report vindicates its stand

Accra (Greater Accra Region) 13 Oct 1998 The 1998/99 World Development Report of the World Bank has affirmed the United Ghana Movement's (UGM's) vision of ''Growing People for Ghana's Development'' as a key to a successful development and prosperity in the 21st century.

A statement issued in Accra and signed by Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby, a presidential candidate of the party, said the report acknowledges the continuing relevance that the balance between knowledge and resources has shifted so far toward the former. It said knowledge has become the most important factor determining the standard of living. The statement said the World Bank Development Report's prescription echoes the substance of the UGM's vision, which was launched at its national congress in Tamale on August 29.

''The key to a strong and prosperous Ghana in the 21st century is to develop a well educated, highly skilled and motivated people who, encouraged by an enabling environment can fight to restore the country's place as Africa's foremost economic nation''.

The statement said "it is the nurturing, retention and effective use of our home grown people which will reverse the lost opportunities of the present century to build a self-sustaining and confident Ghana in the next millennium."

''Sustainable development is about what people do for themselves, not what others decide for or do for them. Ghana's survival and progress for the next century will depend on what Ghanaians do for Ghanaians and not what IMF, the World Bank and others decide to do for us."

It said ''The UGM welcomes the World Bank's very refreshing change of direction for setting the Global Development agenda for the fast approaching 21st century.

''In particular we welcome the Bank's President, James Wolfensohn's call for knowledge to flow constantly back and forth across the ever changing web, involving all who create and use it,'' the statement added.