Kojo Oppong Nkrumah
The Fourth National Policy Dialogue on government’s flagship programmes has been scheduled from 24-25 September, 2018 at the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale.
It would be on the theme, “Assessing Government’s Flagship Programmes – The Journey so Far.”
The dialogue is being organised by the government in partnership with the Universal Merchant Bank (UMB).
The keynote address would be delivered by Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
The opening ceremony would be chaired by Kpembewura Bismark Dari, the Paramount Chief of the Kpembe Traditional Area.
Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, the Minister of Information-designate, at a press launch of the National Policy Dialogue on Monday in Accra, said as part of government’s efforts to ensure accountability to the people, the Fourth National Policy Dialogue would be dedicated to its flagship programmes.
He said areas to be looked at include the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (One Constituency, One Million Dollars), Free Senior High School – The Double Track System/Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), ‘One Village, One Dam,’ ‘One District, One Factory’ and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
He revealed that during the conference, ministers of state responsible for the various flagship programmes would engage directly with stakeholders and provide status reports on them and also take feedback.
On the first day of the programme, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Minister of Education, would speak on the topic, “Free Senior High School for all Ghanaian Children – the Double Track System…What it is and why.”
Alan John Kyerematen, the Minister of Trade and Industry, would present a status report on the ‘One District, One Factory’ programme dubbed, “Assessment of One District, One Factory…Status of Implementation.”
On the second day, Dr Opoku-Prempeh would again speak on the topic, “Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Ghana, what is the success story so far and what are the next steps to enhance awareness creation and increase enrolment.”
Mavis Hawa Koomson, the Minister of Special Development Initiatives, would speak on the topic: “Assessment of One Village, One Dam initiative…the status of implementation so far.”
She would also speak on the topic: “Assessment of the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP).”
Collins Ehwie, the Manager, Centre for Business, would speak on the topic: “Financing Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Access to Funding”.
Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, the Minister of Health, would present a status report on the NHIS dubbed, “Status of efforts to restructure the NHIS.”
A Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection would present a status report on the Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty (LEAP) programme.
Each presentation would be followed by a panel discussion.
Roland Akafia, the UMB Head of Public Private Partnership Incubator Centre, said they were very excited in partnering the government to take the National Policy Summit to the doorsteps of the people, adding that this would enable the people to have a say in some of the policies and programmes that government is rolling out.
He revealed that the UMB is the first bank to pledge its support to government in the implementation of its flagship programme, “One District, One Factory.
Mr. Akafia said that a couple of weeks ago, UMB delivered on the first project and provided $10.7 million for one of the flagship programmes of the government.
GNA