National Development Plan

'National Development Plan'

·        A panacea for Ghana's growth says Nubuasah

A Ghanaian Prelate has proposed the enactment of a holistic long term and binding national development plan for the country and depart from the era where governments used political party manifestoes to govern the country.

The call was made by Most Rev. Frank Nubuasah, SVD, Bishop of Francistown Vicariate in Botswana in an interview with the Catholic Standard in Accra, when he recently visited Ghana.

He stressed the need for a five year or 10 year cycle of national development plan which should elicit the views of all segments of the Ghanaian of society, be nationalistic in character and capture the nation’s aspirations and visions.

He underscored the essence for a National Development Plan that would guide the attainment of set goals of the country and which should be followed through by all elected governments, for continuity and progressive development of the Ghana.  

He stated that to ensure holistic development the country we should strive to run transparent by reducing corruption, accountable and address the poor maintenance culture.

Sharing Botswana’s experience, he said there was need for Ghana to institute measures that would improve responsible and accountable governance to not only win the trust of their citizens but the donor agencies as well.  

Bishop Nubuasah expressed concern about the poor maintenance culture in Ghana and most African countries, describing the phenomenon “as a systemic weakness that must be tackled with all seriousness”.

“For instance in most schools there are broken chairs parked and left to rot. Why can’t the school mobilise support from the Parent Teacher Association to fix those Chairs to enhance education? He queried.

“There was something we are certainly not doing right,” he stated and added that “if the country did the right things we would all benefit from its growth and development.”

The Bishop, sharing his views on the Supreme Court ruling of August 29, commended Ghanaians for conducting themselves peacefully during the election and Supreme Court verdict and expressed delight, but cautioned Ghanaians “not to look down on the judges” who gave the verdict, but respect them since they were neutral and referees in settling electoral dispute.

He said entreated adherersof religion particularly Christian and Muslims to continuously pray for peace to prevail in the country.

Said the Bishop: “peace is God’s gift to man, which is different from what the world gives.” He added that the peace in the country was the fruit of the prayers Ghanaians offered.

He urged citizens to live in peace with themselves, their families and the environment through conservation.  

The Bishop said by resorting to the Supreme Court,Ghana has shown that people could live peacefully even though they disagree and have their differences, noting that it was a healthy sign democracy the country’s was growing.

He cited the smooth transition of power from a sitting government to the opposition as a plus for the country, noting that the Supreme Court ruling has Ghana boosted the democratic credential of the country, which was a good example for other Africa countries to learn from.

He pleaded: We have only one Ghana so let’s work to engender greater national cohesion and peace in the country.