The Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, says the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda, spearheaded by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, will be a very dominant factor in Ghana’s progress after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking yesterday at a COVID-19 and Ghana Beyond Aid forum held at the Ministry of Information, the Senior Minister said the policy should be devoid of partisan politics, but rather encourage local participation.
The theme for the programme was “COVID-19 and our march towards Ghana Beyond Aid: Turning adversity into opportunity.”
Mr Osafo-Maafo said what the country needs to be focus on now is setting a system of implementation.
“It should not be reduced into another talking shop. We should not just be talking about it, but we should find a way of getting these lofty ideas implemented, and I am already discussing with some members of the leadership of Parliament to get the matter cast in Parliament,” he said.
Ghana Beyond Covid-19
The forum centred on stepping up public education about the virus in Ghana as well as mobilize the vast majority of Ghanaians towards achieving the much touted Ghana Beyond Aid agenda.
“This is the time for us to be self-sufficient in certain specific production units. Health is not for debate. We must be inward-looking. There must be import substitution which fits our own requirement as a country,” he said.
Taking his turn, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast, Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, noted that the human factor is crucial in the quest for Ghana Beyond Aid.
He recommended that the National Commission for Civil Education (NCCE), Ghana Education Service (GES), faith-based organisations, and civil society organisations must work out pertinent syllabus and curricula on the fundamental values and how they can be inculcated into every Ghanaian from cradle to the grave.
Among such fundamental values and attitudes, which he advocated to be part of the Ghana Beyond Aid document, are patriotism, honesty, respect, discipline, hard work, volunteerism, self-reliance, wise and effective use of Ghana’s resources, safeguarding the public purse, transparency and accountability, equal opportunities for all Ghanaians and strong support for the private sector.
“We need, in my opinion, systematic and sustaining goals-oriented formation programme for these values. We need a paradigm shift from our present mindset, our attitude and our behaviour,” he said.
The forum was organised under the chairmanship of the Senior Minister. Other speakers included Mr Kwame Pianim, a renowned economist; the President of Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Dr Yaw Adu Gyamfi; the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana EXIM Bank, Mr Lawrence Agyinsam; and the President of the National Union of Ghana Students, Isaac Jay Hyde.
Source: Daily Statesman
