President Mahama advocates for national development planning beyond election cycles.

President John Dramani Mahama has renewed his call for a comprehensive, long-term national development plan that transcends the fluctuating landscape of Ghanaian politics and electoral cycles.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) on Tuesday, President Mahama emphasised the increasing public demand for a stable and predictable future for the nation.

The President emphasised the need for a consistent national vision, quoting Ghana’s first president, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, and his emphasis on a “clear vision of the structure of the economy” from his seven-year development plan.

Mahama utilised Nkrumah’s vision to highlight that economic policies require long-term planning for the benefit of the nation. Acknowledging Ghana’s continued reliance on primary commodities, President Mahama attributed this economic reality to persistent structural challenges.

He echoed Nkrumah’s sentiment that the nation remains, in many respects, “prisoners of our past,” hindering diversification and value addition to the economy.

“Ghanaians increasingly demand a stable and predictable path for national development that transcends our electoral cycles and partisan politics,” President Mahama stated, reiterating the core purpose of the long-term plan.

President Mahama charged the NDPC with consolidating existing long-term development frameworks, including the “Ghana at 100” plan, into a cohesive and inclusive national development plan. He stressed the importance of robust collaboration with Parliament and direct engagement with the public to foster a broad national consensus around the development agenda.

Expressing his confidence in the expertise and dedication of the NDPC, President Mahama concluded with a call to action.

“Let us work together to deliver a development plan that charts a bold and transformative path for our dear nation, Ghana,” he urged.

The President’s remarks signal a renewed commitment to strategic national planning aimed at achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth for Ghana.