Implementation of the Senchi Economic Forum Recommendations

Two heads they say are better than one. It is in the light of this worthy saying that promoting dialogue towards achieving consensus is considered an essential pre-requisite for success in any development
effort.  

Several benefits result from employing consensus-building
processes to address myriad of challenges in life.  Collaboration
towards consensus building is a sure way of having quality solutions to challenges. 

The clarion call for consensus building in development planning that cut across party lines has become important especially
as a long term sustainable transformational development strategy.

Unfortunately the nature of democracy in this part of our world,
sometimes creates suspicion when consensus building is being initiated. In spite of this challenge,  it is no gain saying that consensus building remains critical to the enterprise of nation building that can stand the test of time.  

In May this year a National Economic Forum was held at Senchi in the Eastern Region  to promote
dialogue towards achieving consensus on the policies, strategies and measures that are required to accelerate sustainable development for
the Nation. The forum brought together a wide range of stakeholders to promote dialogue in order to develop national consensus on some of the critical economic policy issues confronting the Country.  

As a follow up to this Forum, The Vice President Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah Arthur recently  inaugurated a Post- Senchi Implementation Advisory Group at
the National Development Planning Commission with the responsibility
of guiding the implementation of the recommendations of the Forum.

The objectives of the Implementation Advisory Group are to establish a coordinated implementation and monitoring arrangement for effective
implementation of the Senchi recommendations and systematic reporting on progress. 

The successful implementation of the Senchi consensus will go a long way to usher a new era of stable, shared and sustainable growth if it is supported by a nationalist commitment by
all.  

It is important to note that such  national visions and nationalistic approaches to national development are indispensable for national development not only in contemporary Africa but also
beyond the frontiers of Africa.

Countries such as China, Singapore
and Sri Lanka are said to have attained commendable development partly due to well articulated and effectively implemented national visions.

Political parties in Ghana would therefore do the Nation a great service by always considering national aspirations first in discussing matters that border  on sustainable national development.  

It is worthy to note that during the national stakeholder’s conference on the recommendations of the Constitutional Review Commission , many Ghanaians indicated the urgent need to mobilize and rally the nation behind a nationally owned and shared vision of national development by creating the opportunity for the broad spectrum of Ghanaians to articulate, define and support a long term national development
agenda. 

With the commencement of work by the Senchi Implementation Advisory Group another giant step has been taken towards ensuring the implementation of national visions as recommended by most citizens.

The responsibility lies on all well-meaning Ghanaians to support such development efforts that cut across party lines to ensure long term solutions to Ghana’s economic challenges. For that is the only way of ensuring  the achievement of  the long-held goal of the founding fathers of the country, which is a free,  just and prosperous society where all citizens enjoy a decent standard of  living.

BY DAVID OWUSU-AMOAH, NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANNING COMMISSION.