Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has advocated the adoption of long-term national development masterplans for key sectors of Ghana’s economy to ensure continuity in the implementation of major projects, regardless of changes in government. He believes the approach would prevent successive administrations from abandoning development initiatives started by their predecessors, thereby promoting sustained national progress.
Dr Bawumia made the proposal after holding a series of meetings in Japan with officials from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Nippon Koei, CTI Engineering and Oriental Consultants Global. In a Facebook post detailing his engagements with the four organisations, he said discussions focused on disaster risk reduction, coastal erosion, flood management, transport planning and the development of comprehensive masterplans for cities.
According to him, Japan’s development strategy is anchored in long-term planning, consensus-building and a sustained commitment to implementing agreed projects over several decades. “What stood out most was Japan’s approach to planning. Japan takes the long view. They build consensus around a plan and then commit to executing it over 30 years,” he stated.
Dr Bawumia noted that this model minimises the risk of incoming governments abandoning projects and policies initiated by previous administrations. He contrasted Japan’s approach with Ghana’s development experience, where changes in political leadership have frequently disrupted the implementation of policies and ongoing projects.
The NPP flagbearer therefore called on Ghana to establish national masterplans for critical sectors and require political parties to commit to them before assuming office. He said such an arrangement would ensure that successive governments build on existing development frameworks rather than introduce new policies that could derail or delay ongoing initiatives.
“In Ghana, we often do not have an agreed masterplan in many critical areas that we are all working towards, regardless of party. We must change that. I believe we can. “Let us have agreed masterplans in areas such as coastal erosion, flood control, and public transport – and let all political parties sign up to them,” he added.
