Develop your future manifestos in line with Ghana’s dev’t needs – Director of ISSER

Director of the institute of statistical, social and economic research at the University of Ghana, Prof. Peter Quartey is urging political parties in Ghana to develop their future manifesto’s in line with Ghana’s short- and long-term development goals.

According to him, the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) cannot compel political parties to align their manifestos with the long- and medium-term development perspectives of the country.

However, he said it would be in the interest of the political parties themselves to align their manifestos with the development perspectives of the Country only if they desired to achieve maximum impact and reduce the number of unfulfilled promises.

Prof. Peter Quartey was delivering an address on the theme: Towards Election 2020: Political Party manifestos and Long – term strategic needs of Ghana.

In drawing a comparison between the manifestos of the ruling NPP government and opposition NDC vis a vis Ghana’s long-term strategic needs, the Director of the institute of statistical, social and economic research at the University of Ghana, Prof. Peter Quartey bemoaned the consistent practice of deserting projects begun by outgoing regimes within Ghana’s body politic.

Among other commendations, Prof. peter Quartey parted the NPP government on the back for making the free SHS policy a reality, he however called for more investment in enhancing the quality of SHS graduates.

The forum, which was on the theme: “Towards Election 2020: Political Party manifestos and Long – term strategic needs of Ghana” sought to solicit the views and expectations of the panel members on the Country’s development going forward.

Participants including the Director General of the NDPC, Dr. Kojo Mensah – Abrampah, Chairman of the NPDC, Prof. Stephen Adei and Prof Joseph Atsu Ayee of the University of Ghana, Legon were unanimous in their call for political parties to design a manifesto, which is aligned with the long-term development goals of the Country.

The occasion was also used to launch the Ghana@ 100 long term development framework which offers strategic information on the President’s coordinated programme of economic and social development policies and medium – term national development policy frameworks.