Bediako unveils 12-pillar Economic Freedom policy - Seeks to make Ghana powerhouse

Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson Sep - 02 - 2024 , 11:15

A presidential hopeful and leader of the New Force Movement, Nana Kwame Bediako, has launched a comprehensive policy plan that seeks to transform the country into an economic powerhouse, ensure sustainable development, lift people from poverty and build a governance structure that will allow Ghanaians to enjoy the fruits of democracy better.

Dubbed the “12 Pillars for Economic Freedom”, the plan focuses on 12 thematic areas, including industrialisation, infrastructure development, energy, education and good governance, with the implementation set to be achieved by leveraging the country’s enormous natural and human resources, activated by strong and quality leadership with the political will to take decisive actions in the national interest.

Policies

Key policies of the plan include the “16 Regional Industrial Revolution”, which would see all the 16 regions of the country being turned into industrial hubs to create over 800,000 high-value jobs annually, massive infrastructure development, including railway networks across the country, and development of new energy sources to make the country energy sufficient.

Mr Bediako also mentioned other initiatives such as the establishment of a national sovereign fund to invest in national projects, “industrication”, which is a plan to reform the educational system by merging it with industrial training, creating a generation of entrepreneurs, and raising $50 billion to fund the industrialisation agenda through a citizenship-led investment strategy that seeks to encourage Africans and other investors to invest in the country.

The policy also includes initiatives to turn the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) into an insurance bank, where contributors can access their funds after five years of contribution, and with government support, use that fund to cater for pressing issues such as health, education and housing.

Mr Bediako is also proposing a reduction in the cost of governance that would give Ghanaians value for money in by working with only 12 Ministers. His government would also protect civil liberties, promote press freedom and allow meritocracy to thrive, instead of the “whom you know” syndrome.

Bold initiatives

At the launch in Accra yesterday, broadcast on many traditional media and social media platforms, Mr Bediako said the time had come for the country to move away from traditional ways of doing things, and take bold steps that would ignite the transformation people had been yearning for over the years.

It was at a colourful setting in an open garden at the Accra International Conference Centre, with the flags of Ghana and many other countries flying high in the background as Mr Bediako delivered his policy agenda.

Under the calming lights that illuminated the dark surroundings, he addressed his audience from a stage, with mainly journalists in attendance.

He spoke eloquently, lifting his head intermittently to connect with the live audience.

In a bold statement depicting himself as the right leader for the country, Mr Bediako entered the venue in grand style, driving a tipper truck sprayed in the national colours, and walked majestically to the stage from where he made the effort to convince the country that his policies would transform the country.

Dressed in a black suit, the leader of the New Force Movement took the country through each of his 12 pillars, explaining their significance, practicality and relevance to the transformation of the country.

Ghana can rise

Mr Bediako said all was not lost for the country, and that with the right leadership, the country could take its place among the comity of great nations.

He, however, said the time for action was now, and that it was important for Ghanaians to join his vision to take the country to greater heights.

“Our greatest asset lies not just in the abundance of our natural resources, but in our ability to self-industrialise - to transform these resources into national wealth, fuelling an undeniable decision that must be met with courage and wisdom. Talking is no longer an option; action is imperative, and it must be swift,” he said.

He added that his plans would not only transform the nation, but would create opportunities for people and activate the ‘can do’ spirit in Ghanaians to build a brighter future.

The businessman stressed that the country needed a leader that would see beyond politics and take initiatives that would give hope and make people believe that they could succeed.

“The New Force has emerged as the best hope for a brighter, more prosperous future – a future where Ghana is not just a country rich in potential but a nation that has fully realised its promise,” he said.

Economic transformation

Throwing more light on his plans, he said, the “16 Regional Industrial Revolution” was a catalyst for industrial revolution which would allow the country to fully utilise its vast resources for sustainable development.

“For decades, Ghana’s wealth – estimated at $2.5 trillion in mineral resources and 13 million hectares of arable land according to the New Force – has remained underutilised,” Mr Bediako stated.

“The plan is to transform each of Ghana’s 16 regions into vibrant industrial hubs, each playing a critical role in the nation’s economic resurgence. By industrialising key sectors such as oil, gold, cocoa and agriculture, this initiative aims to create 800,000 high-value jobs annually, amounting to over eight million jobs within the next decade,” he added.

The economic transformation, the leader of the New Force Movement said, could only be achieved with massive infrastructure development to create the necessary space for industrialisation to thrive.

In view of this, Mr Bediako said under his leadership, there would be massive investment in waterways and a national railway network to improve connectivity and the movement of goods and people.

“By dredging Ghana’s waterways, the New Force aims to create a network of canals and inland harbours that will revolutionise the distribution of industrial goods across the country.

This initiative goes beyond national borders, with plans to lay an 8,000-kilometre railway network that connects Ghana to its neighbouring countries, positioning the nation as the distribution hub of West Africa,” Mr Bediako stated.

Again, he said, he would focus on energy sustainability and security by diversifying the country’s energy sources, with investment on clean energy such as the building of solar farms, windmill, hydro and also explore making nuclear energy possible in the country.

The plan on energy, he explained, would also propel the country to become a leading energy and technology hub on the continent.

Good governance

On governance, Mr Bediako said Ghanaians deserved good leadership that put premium on civil liberties and respected human rights.

He, therefore, said under his leadership, he would implement policies that would protect civil liberties and promote human rights to ensure that everybody felt welcomed in the Ghanaian project.

The proposal for 12 ministries, he stressed, would also ensure that the country was not saddled with an expensive governance structure that made the country worse off.

“This “Apostolic Governance” approach is designed to streamline operations, cut costs and enhance accountability, ensuring that the government serves the people efficiently and effectively,” he stressed.

Writer’s email: emma.hawkson@graphic,com.gh