Mohammed Awal , Minister for Business Development
THE NEW Patriotic Party (NPP) government has launched a unique dialogue series dubbed, “National Policy Summit,” to engage the citizenry on its policies and programmess on monthly basis.
The essence of the proposed engagements is to help deepen collaboration between the central government and the masses with the view to improving upon (government’s) policies and programmes over the next four years.
Minister of Information, Mustapha Hamid, in a statement at the launch of the summit in Accra on Tuesday, said “The very first summit slated for the 2nd and 3rd of May 2017, will focus on the economy.”
Mr. Hamid indicated, “This is because the economy is the biggest challenge inherited by the Akufo-Addo government and also the sector that has received the biggest share of government’s policy attention in these first three months.
“These summits, to be held monthly, shall provide government MDAs a platform to deeply articulate policy and programmes to targeted stakeholders as well as the general public, with the expectation of building partnerships and eliciting feedback to government to enhance further policy development.”
The information minister said each month, President Akufo-Addo’s administration would narrow in on a selected ministry or sector and bring together various agencies therein to participate in the national policy summit dedicated to the said sector.
“It is our expectation that through this unique platform of the national policy summit, the public will be informed on the details of our strategies on revamping the economy and encouraged to own the policies as well, even explain the policies and programmes to all, including other stakeholders, family and friends.”
Minister of Business Development, Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim Awal, while launching the format, indicated that “The maiden summit, which is a two-day conference, will focus on providing a platform for the interrogation of policies and programmes and the fostering of partnerships between government and the private sector in the following areas: finance, economy, agriculture, trade and industry, energy and infrastructure for poverty eradication programme.”
BY Melvin Tarlue