Ghana needs proactive planning to prevent future crises – Asiedu Nketiah
National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has called for stronger long-term planning to help Ghana anticipate emerging challenges before they develop into major crises.
Speaking at the fourth Bono Regional Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards at Abesim near Sunyani, Mr Asiedu Nketiah said Ghana already knows many of the pressures it is likely to face in the coming years.
He cited rapid population growth, urbanisation and rising demand for energy, transport, housing and public services, as well as changing skills requirements.
He urged the government to plan ahead and invest in infrastructure and other areas before shortages become costly problems.
According to him, Ghana has often waited until challenges become serious and expensive before taking action.
“We have become quite good in Ghana at solving problems after they have become expensive. We should become equally good at dealing with some of them while they are still manageable,” he said.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah also called for land to be reserved for industrial development before it becomes scarce, while skills development and infrastructure should be planned ahead of future demand.
He further advocated stronger connections between agriculture, processing, storage, logistics and markets to ensure communities gain greater economic value from their resources.
The NDC National Chairman also called for continuity in government projects, arguing that programmes that are delivering results should be maintained and improved rather than abandoned when administrations change.
“A country cannot start every four years afresh,” he said.
By Esther Padmore Amonoo
