Seasoned Economist and Statesman, Kwame Pianim has indicated that in order for Ghana to achieve its fullest growth potential and to be a truly prosperous nation by the year 2057, successive governments must develop concrete policies and programmes for the nation’s benefit.
He was speaking at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) where the institution’s 2023 Annual Leadership Lecture on the theme ‘Re- Imagining Ghana’s Development Trajectory For A Peaceful and Prosperous Nation by 2057; Our 100th Anniversary, through the perspective of the people’ was held.
The well attended leadership event was held on December 11, 2023, where a myriad of policymakers, academics, traditional leaders and key stakeholders in the country came together to digest issues of national importance which could yield concrete policy positions in the governance space of the country.
In addition to his input, Mr. Pianim was confident that a decisive leadership could use the concrete policies and programmes to create an all inclusive society in the future where meritocracy will reign supreme.
He was of the view that governments must take critical steps and be fiscally disciplined in making sure that the country lives within its means and leverages impactful and decisive leadership to achieve self sufficiency by its 100th year.
“In order to achieve the growth potential we expect as we turn 100 years as a nation in 2057, leadership must craft sustainable policies and programmes which create an enabling environment in Ghana where we have a thriving democracy, financial stability and a culture overall where meritocracy is the order of the day.”
“We need to build a culture where the society works without favours and political patronage are relegated to the backburner; hardwork, honesty, selfless patriotism amongst others will become key to building a thriving economy based on moral principles and time tested traditional values which predated the advent of libertarian democracy.”
Kwame Pianim added that after settling the leadership debacle which has plagued Ghana for years as part of re imagining the country in 2057, there must be actionable steps by all stakeholders to remove the shackles of the old traditions. He cited examples such as the population drag which pegged statistics of the average Ghanaian woman to have 6 children on the average, in turn impeding sustainable growth in a lower income country.
He commended Parliament for taking measures to address the phenomenon of marriages under 18 as well to effectively control population factors.
“In re-imagining our beloved country, Ghana from the shackles of underdevelopment which has plagued as for years among other reasons, the population drag which pegs the average Ghanaian woman back then to have 6 kids really affected our sustainable progress.”
“I am glad that the [Parliament] passed a law to criminalize families given out children under 18 especially girls into early marriages which contributed significantly to the rapid rise in our population over the years…”
Mr. Pianim rebuked the national leadership for putting out a false narrative as a solution to national economic challenges.
He attributed such failure to achieve sustainable economic growth to what he described as ‘endemic corruption’.
“Unfortunately, our leaders overtime have put into our psyche the false narrative that public spending will likely solve most of our challenges as a nation, which is untrue in all forms. The only reason that our economy has become a procurement dependent one is just to enrich the few politically exposed persons and enslave the larger part of the population who queue to vote them into office.”
“One of the biggest challenges to development in third class countries like Ghana and especially Africa is endemic corruption which is a disincentive to sustainable growth of economies and creates more problems than the beneficiaries can dream of solving.”
Andrews Kwame Pianim is a former Ghanaian Public Official in the erstwhile John Agyekum Kuffour administration between 2001-2009 and a member of the ruling New Patriotic Party.
He is a seasoned Economist who has travelled extensively across the globe and consulted for many big ticket companies and nations around the world. He is currently a co-owner to NewWorld Investments, a renowned investment company which has been operative since 1995.
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Story by: Sika Togoh | univers.ug.edu.gh
