President Mahama forms 7-member committee for “National Economic Dialogue”

In a step toward fulfilling his promise to convene a National Economic Dialogue (NED) within his first 120 days in office, President John Dramani Mahama has announced the formation of a seven-member planning committee tasked with organising the landmark event.

The committee, chaired by renowned economist and consultant Dr. Ishmael Yamson, will play a pivotal role in shaping the dialogue aimed at addressing Ghana’s pressing economic challenges and charting a path toward sustainable development.

The committee comprises a distinguished lineup of experts, including Dr. K.Y. Amoako, Professor John Gatsi, Mohammed Samara, Nelly Mireku, Anthony Sarpong, and Ernest De-Graft Egyir.

According to a statement signed by Acting Presidential Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the National Economic Dialogue will help to develop consensus and facilitate engagement on important issues pertaining to the Ghanaian economy with an emphasis on policy trade-offs and structural reforms for a high-growth, inclusive, and resilient economy.

The government envisions the dialogue achieving three core objectives: communicating the true state of Ghana’s economy to stakeholders and the general public, developing a homegrown fiscal consolidation program to guide national budgetary decisions, and highlighting as well as prioritising essential structural reforms and policies needed to reset the economy.

The NED Planning Committee has been given a four-week timeline to submit a detailed report outlining the event’s agenda, logistics, and communication strategy. Their mandate includes setting a comprehensive agenda aligned with the dialogue’s objectives, identifying and inviting sectoral experts in economics, energy, and agriculture as speakers and panellists, and organising breakout sessions and workshops.

Additionally, the committee is tasked with ensuring proper documentation of proceedings and preparing a detailed report with actionable policy recommendations.

The committee will also oversee logistics, including venue selection, transportation, and other operational requirements, while implementing a communication strategy to raise public awareness and engagement.