Professor Stephen Adei has commended the government for initiating a National Economic Dialogue, emphasizing that continuous dialogue is essential for national progress.
According to him, while the initiative was timely, its success would depend on the implementation of the proposals discussed.
“So long as the country exists, there must be continuous dialogue. think it was quite ingenious for them to have, very early, this dialogue. It was a good move, though it took too long to happen,” Professor Adei stated on The Key Points on TV3 on Saturday, March 8, 2025.
The former GIMPA Rector underscored the importance of social mobilization, explaining that the dialogue served to engage citizens and policymakers alike.
He stressed that irrespective of the outcome, carrying the people along is crucial even in difficult situations; when minds come together, solutions can be found, and lamented that the past governments had failed to initiate such dialogues at critical moments, which could have fostered consensus on economic policies.
Concerns About Implementation
Despite applauding the effort, Professor Adei expressed concerns about translating discussions into concrete actions.
“It has to be translated into specific policy actions. There must be an economic advisory group that supports the Minister for Finance. Without this, the dialogue remains just talk,” he said.
He lamented that during his tenure as Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), his team struggled to gain an audience with the President.
The council itself, he said, couldn’t have a dialogue once with the President, stressing that Ghana’s politics has made economic strategy an afterthought.
Presidential Commitment is Key
Professor Adei suggested that only a few presidents had shown genuine interest in economic strategy.
“Apart from Kwame Nkrumah, the only president who showed such commitment was the late Professor John Atta Mills. He was personally invested in economic planning and had a bipartisan approach,” he said.
He criticized the political climate that often disregards expert recommendations and cautioned that unless the presidency values economic strategy and advice, nothing will change.
Professor Adei emphasized the need for urgent follow-through on recommendations and urged the President to place value on the economic policy proposals, ensuring they are not just words on paper.