The Chief Advisor to the President of Ghana, Mrs Mary Chinery-Hesse, has expressed the need for prudent management of oil find in Ghana when it becomes operationalised so that dependency on external input from development partners would be reduced.

“Time will soon come when these meetings will be phased out completely because our economy will not need to depend so much on external input,” She stated.

Mrs Mary Chinery-Hesse, was speaking at the closing of a day’s 2008 Consultative Group Annual Partnership Meeting held in Accra under the theme, “Ghana’s Aid Policy-A joint Approach to Accelerated Development.”

The Chief Advisor, said the meeting held in Ghana was a clear demonstration that the government was truly in the ‘Driver’s seat’ leading the process and ensuring that the development concerns of the people inform the consultations.

She expressed government’s gratitude to the partners for their continued support to Ghana and urged them to continue to assist Ghana in a manner that would propel the nation to middle income status.

Mr J. H. Mensah, Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission on Ghana’s Long-Term National Development Plan, called on Ghanaians to unite and come to consensus as to how the nation should develop.

He said Ghanaians should bear in mind that development partners were just supplementary but the onus lies on Ghanaians to do more to ensure development in the country.

The Country Director of the World Bank, Mr Ishac Diwan, said partners would be committed in ensuring that things are better in Ghana.

He urged Ghanaians to take advantage of the global food crisis as a result of crude oil hyke on the world market and invest in agriculture and other sectors that could help stablise Ghanaian economy.

According to Mr Kwadwo Baah Wiredu, Ghana’s Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, it was always good to plan whether short or long term for any eventuality.

He said it was time to take critical assessment of work done and evaluate whether they are scaling down or up and make amends when necessary in order to ensure vibrant economy in the country.

Source: ISD (Zakari Musah)

Posted: 02/07/08

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