The Chairman of the National Economic Dialogue Planning Committee, Dr Ishmael Yamson, has made a strong appeal to President John Dramani Mahama to institutionalise the National Economic Dialogue as a permanent fixture in Ghana’s governance and economic planning framework.
Such a move, he said, would ensure continuous engagement with all key stakeholders on the state of the nation’s economy and offer a platform for developing and refining homegrown policy solutions to reset and transform Ghana’s economic future.
Dr Yamson made the call at the Flagstaff House in Accra when he formally presented the final report of the National Economic Dialogue Planning Committee to the President.
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The Dialogue, which was held on March 3 and 4 this year, brought together a cross-section of Ghanaians drawn from political parties, civil society organisations, academia, student and youth groups, professional associations, traditional authorities, ministers of state, and government appointees.
According to Dr Yamson, the event focused on six critical thematic areas. These included macroeconomic stability and restoring confidence in Ghana’s economy; inclusive and sustainable economic transformation; private sector-led growth; and infrastructure development to bridge the country’s deficit.
The rest were structural and policy reforms to strengthen key sectors, and measures to enhance good governance, accountability, and anti-corruption.
He stressed that the recommendations contained in the report were designed to meet the demands of the times, especially in the face of growing global uncertainties. “We also believe that you will find the recommendations appropriate for the current times of extreme global disruptions and uncertainties, where resilience means self-reliance,” he added.
Dr Yamson emphasised that swift and committed implementation of the report’s proposals—particularly reforms in the energy and cocoa sectors—would help establish a more stable and prosperous economy for the country.
“The ultimate measure of success will be the government’s ability to respond effectively to the everyday challenges facing Ghanaians and restore trust and credibility in national policy direction,” he said.
He thanked President Mahama for the confidence reposed in the Committee and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve the nation.
The seven-member committee included renowned economist Dr K.Y. Amoako, Professor John Gatsi, Mohammed Samara, Nelly Mireku, Anthony Sarpong, and Ernest De-Graft Egyir.