Ghana Beyond Aid: First time there’s been a clear vision since Nkrumah’s era – Prof. Adei

Former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Professor Stephen Adei has hailed President Akufo-Addo’s vision for the country as one which the citizenry can all rally around to drive the development of Ghana.

According to Prof. Adei the Ghana Beyond Aid vision is the first time since independence that an idea can be articulated

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“Ghana Beyond Aid provides a good articulation of a national vision and probably the best since the pre independence days of UGCC’s “independence in the shortest possible time” and Nkrumah’s “Self-governance now”. I am saying this notwithstanding Acheampong’s 'Operation Feed Yourself', Rawlings’ 'Probity and Accountability', Kufuor’s 'Poverty Alleviation' Atta Mills’ 'Better Ghana Agenda' and Mahama’s 'Toaso'. It is a timely vision at a point when Ghanaians have become so dependent on foreign loans and aid, are drowning in debt servicing and some losing hope of our ability to chart our own future”, he averred.

He however added that the Ghana Beyond Aid phrase needs to be tweeted to fit the local dialect as well.

“… when I look at their document they have a very good phrase; ‘prosperity and opportunity for all’ and I think that Ghana Beyond Aid is just a means, the end is prosperity and opportunity for all. I think that Ghanaians need something that they can anchor their hope to and what I’m saying is that this could be it, especially with the commitment of the president.

Oftentimes it’s just for political jargons and when the elections are past, it’s finished but it seems that it’s a passion that he wants to do something about it and that is where I think that is where probably we have got the mantra to run with,” Prof Adei noted.

The Ashesi University lecturer was speaking after a presentation on the theme Ghana Beyond Aid: how can we get there? Organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Accra.



He outlined ten factors in which the country will have to undertake achieve the Ghana Beyond Aid vision.

They are:

1. Leadership quality and commitment. According to Myles Munroe for leadership to deliver such agenda must be “just, legitimate and qualified”. “Leadership is cause, everything else is effect”. (Adei, 2004)

2. A new Ghanaian in terms of culture, work ethic, patriotism, discipline and non-xenophobic nationalism. “Culture matters”.

3. Credible development of vision and transformational agenda.

4. Efficient professional and ethical governance and development institutions especially that of the Public Service, Judiciary and the Police. The latter of the two should anchor development in the Rule of Law.

5. Quality social capital especially that of pre-university education, health and sanitation.

6. A quantum shift in the way we do politics

7. Sustained improvement in economic infrastructure especially that of electricity supply

8. Macroeconomic environment that promotes not just economic stability but growth, high level of national savings, fiscal discipline, reduced debt, a decisively Ghana-first industrialisation, agricultural and leading sectors development including enhancing productivity and market efficiency.

9. Strong anti-corruption regime and value for money management of publicly funded programmes and projects

10. Labour market efficiency and equity