Osafo Marfo Hints Of Review Of 40 Year National Development Plan

Senior Minister- designate, Yaw Osafo-Marfo, says the 40-year National Development Plan to guide Ghana’s development agenda will be reviewed. 

According to him, a long-term plan for national development must be limited to ten years due to world economic conditions and the advancement in technology. 

Speaking at his vetting in Parliament today (Jan. 20), Mr Osafo Maafo said, although he made inputs into the document that was spearheaded by the National Development Planning Commission, he made his concerns known about the duration of the plan.

Mr. Osafo-Marfo stated that his office will take a second look at land acquisition and rent issues. 

According to him, the cumbersome nature of land acquisition is a contributory factor that discourages investors from doing business in the country and this will be looked at to make the country business friendly.

On the issue of tax reduction, Mr Osafo Marfo said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is committed to reducing tax which according to him, will take effect from March after the budget has been read. 

Mr. Osafo-Marfo, has however defended President Akufo Addo’s creation of the Senior Minister portfolio. 

He explained at his vetting, that his core duty will be to co-ordinate economic activities in all the Ministries bringing to bear his past experience as Minister of Finance and Economic Planning. 

Mr. Osafo-Marfo's portfolio as Senior Minister has been met with mixed reaction, with critics saying that, it is a portfolio with no proper designation.

GBC