A senior economics lecturer at the University of Ghana Business School has blamed persons at the helm of affairs for the problems confronting the country.
Dr. Agyapomaa Gyeke-Dako said the leaders seem to focus on populist policies and neglect the important initiatives that will build the economy and make it resilient.
She believes the leaders are only keen on maintaining office and are not interested in elevating the citizenry from lingering in poverty.
In a panel discussion on the state of the economy organised by Metro TV on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, the senior economics lecturer said she was optimistic the 0ne District, One Factory initiative introduced by President Akufo-Addo when he assumed office in 2017 will transform the financial fortunes of the country, however, it is yet to yield such result.
“I was so hopeful when I saw the 1D1F [One District, One Factory] policy or intervention and I was hopeful that this was going to turn the economy around and allow firms to sort of produce and add some value to their products and help in us export earnings, etc. But till date, I haven’t seen so much. I haven’t seen what that has been able to do to our economy and we’re rather focusing on the many things I am not saying are not important. Still, we’re putting some things before these things I think are very essential in propelling the economy,” Dr. Gyeke-Dako averred.
“It is a problem of leadership we’re thinking about how to win the next elections. We are not focusing on the basic things that we need to do to make our economy develop,” she added.
The senior economics lecturer said there should be a deliberate investment in the agricultural sector to boost the economy and until the government heed to such advice the economy will continue to struggle.
“Over the years, we have not been able to transform properly the normal sequence of transformation for every economy, especially the Hungarian economy is like Ghana, is for us to move and develop our agricultural sector.
“Once we are able to develop our agricultural sector we move from manufacturing and then services. But what are we seeing in terms of our contributions to GDP? We are seeing that the service sector is actually leading our growth in the economy so our structural transformation has not taken place the way we want it.
She noted, “We need a consented effort and everyone has a role to play.”
By: Bernard Ralph Adams | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana
