Former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Professor Stephen Adei, has observed that successive governments in Ghana don’t show serious interest in the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC).
He criticised the government, present and past, for not equipping the Commission with the technical personnel, which he said is critically needed.
Speaking on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, March 8, he said “Our governments are not interested in the National Development Planning Commission. They don’t fund them. They don’t equip them with the technical personnel, which is needed.”
Prof Stephen Adei said this with the conviction that that Ghana will develop faster if governments stay in power for a longer period.
He said this will ensure the continuity needed for long term growth. The Economist added though that, it is critical for the government to be doing the right things.
“Ghana needs a good government who will be in power for 20 years. But it should not be the same President,” he declared.
Prof Adei contended that frequent changes in government, although good for our democracy, does not augur well for economic development. Especially so when successive governments in Ghana have tended not to continue projects and programmes started by their predecessors.
In view of this, he lauded the government for the National Economic Dialogue held between March 3 and 4 at the Accra International Conference Centre.
According to him, it was a good opportunity to collate ideas from stakeholders to development the country.
“The National Economic Dialogue was a good,” he said.
Prof Adei explained that such a forum was long overdue given the state in which the economy has been over the past few years.
“The previous government missed out, because everybody was saying let’s talk together, but they did not listen,” he bemoaned.
He revealed that although he was not invited, he attended the event only to discover that his name tag had already been prepared awaiting his attendance.
“I decided to ‘gate-crash’ but it turned my name was there. I suspect someone decided to keep my invitation,” he said amid laughter.
