Give Timelines for Ghana Beyond Aid Policy — Haruna Iddrisu To Gov’t

Haruna Iddrisu, Minority Leader of Parliament, has demanded detailed timelines for the President’s Ghana Beyond Aid vision, which according to him, has become a national policy that must be embraced by all.

He wondered that neither the President nor his appointees have come out with a clear timeline towards the attainment of the vision, and called for a detailed roadmap, lest it becomes a mere slogan.

He said the President has a four year mandate within which to complete his vision for the country, and doubts if Ghana Beyond Aid is attainable within the period.

He said it is for such reasons that the Constitution, in Article 36 (5), provided an avenue for the President to announce the ways he intends to steer the development of the country.

Article 36 (5) provides that: “For the purposes of the foregoing clauses of this article, within two years after assuming office, the President shall present to Parliament a coordinated programme of economic and social development policies, including agricultural and industrial programmes at all levels and in all the regions of Ghana”.

Hon. Iddrisu suggested that the President should have included Ghana Beyond Aid as a vision attainment and policy drive in his coordinated programme of economic and social development policy to the House for 2017-2024.

He opined that the country is bedeviled with petty politicking, and finds it needful that the President rallies the people towards the attainment of the vision through social inclusion, broader dialogue and stakeholder consultations.

The Minority Leader Speaker finally criticized government’s attempt to lump the One District One Factory (1D1F) and One Village One Dam (1V1D) as means of attaining his vision, saying the Trade and Industry Minister is yet to secure donor funding for even the 1D1F programme.

By: Frederick E. Aggrey