Prof. Stephen Adei calls for creation of a “National Vision” for economic development 

In a compelling address at the prestigious 3rd National Governance & Business Leadership Awards, former Chairperson of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Professor Stephen Adei, issued a clarion call for the creation of a cohesive national vision aimed at steering Ghana towards unprecedented economic growth.

Notably, the erudite Professor Adei emphasized that presently, the nation lacks a unified vision to which both of its major political parties, NPP and NDC, could wholeheartedly commit.

He stressed that a shared vision is imperative to harness the collective efforts of professionals, academics, and the business community in the pursuit of national prosperity.

“There’s no national vision in which whether you are NPP or NDC, that you are to be committed.

“There’s no reason why we shouldn’t have a vision for Ghana that will require especially the professionals, the academics and the business community to work together to achieve it,” Prof. Adei noted.

“Our generation bears the responsibility of bequeathing a developed country to posterity, a nation that embodies the tenets of sustainability,” he added.

The lack of a unified national vision has resulted in Ghana enduring three arduous periods of economic challenges, as cited by the esteemed economist.

The first of these periods being the 1970s to 1980s, has been etched in history as the “lost decade of Ghana,” wherein GDP per capita plummeted by a staggering 40%.

Subsequently, challenges arose between 2000 and 2011, followed by the recent hardships experienced since 2020 prompted by the Covid pandemic and the domestic debt restructuring programme.

The occasion of the National Governance & Business Leadership Awards served as a fitting platform to celebrate and commend exceptional leaders who have left an indelible mark on both the private and public sectors.

These outstanding individuals have exhibited exemplary leadership qualities and displayed innovative strategies, fostering profound impacts on their organizations and the broader community.

Professor Adei’s impassioned appeal resonates with Ghana’s leadership elite, who now face the compelling mandate of forging a comprehensive national vision that transcends party affiliations.

The convergence of political will, professional expertise, and entrepreneurial acumen could well pave the way towards a future marked by sustained economic growth and social upliftment.

As Ghana contemplates its developmental trajectory, the resounding call for unity amidst political diversity heralds a pivotal moment for the nation.

The development and successful implementation of a shared vision may well be the fulcrum upon which Ghana’s journey to a prosperous and sustainable future turns.