Development plan for unusual people living in unusual times
E. Ablorh-Odjidja
August 26, 2015

I have read on ongoing basis, with baited interest ,discussions on the intended 40 year development plan for Ghana. Baited interest because of the 40 years hook and the necessity of the idea; but all the same, I am worried by inherent weaknesses within the idea.

How does one implement this extraordinarily lengthy development plan in such a toxic, fetid, partisan environment such as ours?

Still, we do need a development plan. A 40 years plan is not likely to be sustainable. But, I am not recommending an unplanned approach for development either.

President John Dramani Mahama, on August 4, 2015, got the process going. In the key note speech, he addressed the need for a process for the implementation of a National Development Plan for Ghana , 2018-2057.

Two former presidents, Kufuor and Rawlings, were at the event to lend moral support .

We have had development plans in the past, the Five and Seven Year Development plans from the Nkrumah regime. But the latter, for no reason other than partisan pique, was abruptly sank after the 1966 coup. A pattern was thus established that was to continue over the years - from regime to regime.

It took President Kufuor, after some 40 year's time lapse, to break the pattern and to affirm the necessity of continuity in development ideas. The signing of his Millennium Challenge Compact in 2006 reflected some of the goals from the Seven Year Development Plan of Nkrumah.

Thus, a good template for process was formed until Kufuor left office in 2009. His plans went the same way as Nkrumah's.

Nkrumah, you may recall was a socialist but one with strong national interest. Kufuor, on the other hand, is a conservative, but also one motivated by strong national interest. The commonality of national interest provided the key for their development planning and nation building.

President, John Dramani Mahama, in his keynote justified the need for a long term plan for reasons of "socio-economic prosperity" for the country.

Dr Nii Moi Thompson, in support, said the same at the event - that even such a development plan was required by law embedded in the 1992 constitution.

But since the 1992 constitution, consistent development planning is still dogging the nation.

Prof. Kwesi Botchwey, chairman for the occasion and chair of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) also noted in his remark that "long-term national development plans had helped countries to develop and attain high income growth...." but they could not be achieved in "political competitive pluralism" environment, as could be done under benevolent dictatorship.

Prof. Botchway remark also hinted at something. That development planning must be applied with social and political duress.

As stated on the NDPC web site, under History of Development Planning, the Seven Year Development Plan of Nkrumah "represented the first-ever attempt at quantifying economic growth and its relationship to improving the living standards of Ghanaians."

Under Kufuor and the Millennium Challenge Compact, it can be said, in part, that the same purpose was reflected with the following accomplishments.

The Bush Highway was built as a continuation of the Tema Motorway.

Bui came on line as part of the original 13 smaller dams of Nkrumah, intended to support the Akosombo Dam.

As under Nkrumah, water supply for urban areas became a priority for the Kufuor regime. Schools were built and educational systems enhanced.  So also was the growth of infra-structural developments like roads to support the agricultural sector.

There was a gap of 40 years between Nkrumah and Kufuor. The commonality of purpose assured some process, even though the regimes were different.

Interestingly, Prof. Botchway remark raised a point about ideology and development. Many national development plans are sparked by ideologies. Ideology sets the rationale, implements the plan, and in a way, defends the plan until fulfillment.

Bluntly speaking, there is no one true, disciplined ideology to speak of in Ghana today. The erstwhile socialists are rich and the current crop in the conservative tradition are equally mouthing empty socialist slogans for votes.

Fortunately, true nationalism can replace the ideology standards that we lack. The commonality of critical interest must provide the bridge - from regime to regime , regardless of ideology.

Fortunately, the awareness is spreading, as a link to a web news I received from Eddie, a friend, informed me.

"Chiefs Decry Abandoned Government Projects...Due To Change Of Government," the link said; citing projects that were abandoned as different political ideologies came to power.

For this practice, Eddie wrote the pointer, " We are a pathetic bunch!"

Agreed, so we must start the process for cure.

 I don't know what President Mahama's proposal will entail. However, a 40 year long term plan risks the danger of being passed on, from regime to regime, as DOA (Dead On Arrival) for lack of interest by partisan governing regimes as happened often in the past.

Certainly, a different approach to planning for development is needed. The approach must be heuristic. It must have the force to curtail reoccurrences of factors that prevented continuity in our development plans in the past.

Regimes must be required to come to office with plans tailored to build on existing development plans as approved by Parliament.

All development plans must be funded on a set percentage formula based on the most current GDP, not on a future projection of the GDP. And allowances should be made for provisions in the budget to help complete or enhance unfinished projects from immediate preceding regimes.

Old projects already approved by Parliament must be completed by the managing regime before the start of new ones. Release of funds by Parliament to the regime in power must be tied to this procedure.

Thus, a tandem can be established as a result.  Unfinished projects from the past can be pulled into the present by the new regime, regardless of its political affiliations.

Huge development plans must come only as scalable projects. Building an international airport inside a four year term of a regime? Make it scalable. Two or three runways within the first term. The rest in the next.

All regimes, their political parties and officers, once in power, must be held accountable by oath to uphold the dignity of the entire process - to undertake every projects with efficiency, within reasonable expectations in time and cost.

Once a regime is in office, there must be a tangible, measureable, accountable program built into any plan it submits for funding.  Each plan, thus, can be   reviewed  at the end of the term of office, in accordance to accepted steps proposed in good faith by the regime.

When found lacking, failure must attract penalties for waste of public funds and time.

Penalties must be imposed to include immediate forfeiture of the party in power's right to operate as a lawful political party in the country. Key administrators and party officers become responsible for the failings. They cannot join or form new political parties, unless all offenses are cured.

The process will help to sort out the honorable politician or statesman from the scoundrel in our political system. This may seem unusual to the average Ghanaian, but we have proven ourselves over time to be unusual people living in unusual times. We cannot continue behaving in the usual national interest bereft manner.

The proposed should not be seen as cumbersome or imposing encumbrances on our democratic process.  It must be viewed as a creative approach, suggested  to enhance our democratic processes.

As said, these are unusual times for our country.