Effective national plan needed to break free from economic stagnation

President John Mahama has called for a unified national development plan. This plan aims to tackle Ghana’s ongoing economic challenges and structural issues.

He spoke at the swearing-in of new members of the National Development Plan Commission (NDPC) on May 20. Mr. Mahama expressed disappointment about Ghana's economy. Nearly 70 years after independence, it still relies on a narrow range of primary commodities.

He noted that there is minimal diversification or value addition in the economy. “We remain, as Nkrumah said, ‘prisoners of our past,’” he stated.

Mr. Mahama recognized previous efforts to address these issues. He mentioned the 40-Year National Development Plan completed in 2017 under Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, who now chairs the NDPC.

Since then, other strategic frameworks have emerged. These include the Ghana Beyond Aid framework and the Vision 2057 Perspective plan.

He urged the NDPC to unify these frameworks into one coherent strategy. This strategy should reflect the aspirations of all Ghanaians.

“I urge the commission to create an inclusive national development plan,” Mr. Mahama said.

He emphasized that creating this plan should not be left to technocrats alone. It must involve collaboration with Parliament and representatives of the people.

“This ensures that the final plan addresses evolving domestic and global challenges," he concluded.