National Chairman of Ghana's National Democratic Congress, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has emphasized the need for continuity in the country's development policies. He cautioned that the repeated abandonment or alteration of programs when power changes hands is hindering Ghana's long-term progress. Asiedu Nketiah made these remarks at the fourth Bono Regional Ghana Journalists Association Awards in Sunyani on September 19, 2026.
Asiedu Nketiah urged Ghana to cultivate a tradition of institutional and policy consistency, allowing successive administrations to build upon and improve existing initiatives. He stressed that a country cannot start afresh every four years, citing the need for effective use of public resources. The NDC Chairman also called on journalists to monitor government commitments and maintain accurate records of development projects and public expenditure.
Asiedu Nketiah acknowledged that policy continuity does not mean preserving ineffective programs indefinitely. He stated that governments have a responsibility to discontinue initiatives that fail to achieve their objectives. However, where a program is demonstrably effective, he advocated for strengthening and refining it to maximize benefits for citizens.
The NDC Chairman highlighted Ghana's recent economic difficulties and the importance of fiscal discipline and responsible economic management. He noted that the country's economy expanded by 6.0% in the second quarter of 2026, with consumer inflation at 5.0% in August 2026. Asiedu Nketiah emphasized the need to transform economic stability into productive employment opportunities, stronger businesses, and increased agricultural productivity.
Asiedu Nketiah identified demographic and economic pressures, such as population expansion, urbanization, and rising demand for electricity, transportation, and housing, as key challenges. He advocated for increased investment in industrial land, technical skills, transportation infrastructure, and agriculture to prepare for these pressures.
The NDC Chairman cited infrastructure development in the Bono Region, where the government has committed approximately GH¢4.12 billion to road infrastructure projects covering 252 kilometers. He emphasized that such expenditure should be linked to initiatives generating wider economic activity, such as agricultural processing, storage facilities, and access to markets.
Asiedu Nketiah concluded that Ghana's development process requires consistency and institutional memory, with political leaders drawing lessons from previous experiences. He assigned a crucial role to journalists in promoting long-term accountability by monitoring government promises and commitments.
Key points
- Asiedu Nketiah calls for policy continuity to ensure Ghana's long-term progress.
- The NDC Chairman emphasizes the need for fiscal discipline and responsible economic management.
- Asiedu Nketiah advocates for increased investment in infrastructure, skills, and agriculture to address demographic and economic pressures.
