Professor Bokpin criticizes Government for deviating from ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’ Charter
Professor Godfred Bokpin of the University of Ghana Business School has castigated the Government for straying from its ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’ commitment, arguing it has failed to grasp the economic fundamentals necessary to achieve self-sufficiency.
In a scathing critique, he lamented the ineffective utilization of natural resources and counterproductive policies hindering the nation’s progress toward economic autonomy.
Central to Prof Bokpin’s criticism is the pervasive issue of illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, which he contends has inflicted severe economic and environmental tolls.
“Because of galamsey, Ghana is in a very bad situation and losing, not even to talk about the distraction to the forest and water bodies which threatened our common future.
“If we had a serious government with the proper understanding of the concept of an economy and harnessing our natural resources for the common good, we would not allow illegal mining to persist,” he noted.
He warned of dire consequences, including potential water scarcity, if such unsustainable practices persist unabated.
Despite acknowledging the historical role of foreign aid in Ghana’s development trajectory, Prof Bokpin highlighted its diminishing reliability and the specter of donor fatigue.
Citing a downward trend in aid flows to the country, he argued that Ghana must urgently pivot towards self-reliance by harnessing its resources more effectively.
“I mean from the 70s, 80s, 90s, if you examine the literature you will see the critical role that aid has played, but the discussion now and the reason why the call to look beyond aid is right, is that aid itself is no longer reliable and it’s not there.
“Aid is not there sustainably, it’s quite volatile, and there is donor fatigue. Even though Ghana is considered to be a donor-dialing country, aid to Ghana has been going down” he remarked.
Prof Bokpin’s remarks come amidst a broader discourse on Ghana’s economic future, echoing calls from figures like Member of the House of Lords in the United Kingdom, Lord Paul Boateng, for the country to wean itself off external assistance and prioritize sustainable economic strategies.
As Ghana navigates its path forward, Prof Bokpin’s critique serves as a stark reminder of the imperative to align policy with the aspirational goals of the ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’ vision.
