Duncan Amoah calls for national development plan to replace manifestos

Duncan Amoah, the Executive Secretary of the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), has called for the establishment of a unified national development plan for Ghana to ensure long-term stability. He argued that the country's current reliance on individual political party manifestos hinders progress and leads to inconsistent governance. Amoah emphasized that a collective agenda is essential to ensure that critical national projects are not abandoned or disrupted when power changes hands between administrations.

According to Amoah, the prevailing political culture prioritizes short-term party promises over a sustainable national vision. He noted that this focus often results in significant disruptions to essential public services and infrastructure projects. When a new government takes office, it frequently shifts priorities to align with its own manifesto, often at the expense of initiatives started by its predecessor. This lack of continuity, Amoah suggests, is a major obstacle to socio-economic development and leads to the inefficient use of state resources.

To address these challenges, the COPEC boss proposed the creation of a national framework with clear, measurable targets for key sectors, including education, healthcare, and infrastructure. By institutionalizing these goals, Ghana could hold successive governments accountable for their progress toward a shared national destiny. Amoah’s proposal envisions a system where the core developmental objectives remain constant, regardless of which political party is in power, thereby providing a stable environment for long-term planning.

The call for a non-partisan development plan reflects a growing sentiment among civil society leaders who seek to insulate national progress from the volatility of the four-year electoral cycle. As Ghana continues to navigate complex economic and social challenges, advocates like Amoah argue that a unified strategy is the only way to ensure that development is both inclusive and enduring. The establishment of such a plan would require broad consensus among political stakeholders but could ultimately lead to more transparent and effective governance.