President Akufo-Addo, has held talks with the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the country on the economic challenges the nation is currently experiencing to aggregate their thoughts on steps being taken to restore stability and growth.
The meeting was held behind closed doors at the banquet hall of the Jubilee House on 4 November 2022. In all, representatives of some 13 active CSOs in the country attended the meeting.
*Consultations*
In his introductory remarks before the meeting moved into an in-camera session, President Akufo-Addo, indicated that he invited the CSOs to get their inputs as an important constituency in the governance process, on steps his administration is taking to resolve the current economic crisis.
“All of us are aware of the difficulties that our economy finds itself and the efforts that are being made by this government to address these difficulties.
“I don’t think that that effort will succeed unless it is guided and influenced by a broad a consultative process as possible” President Akufo-Addo said.
“It will be difficult after you meet the economic operators, private sector people [not to meet] those of you [CSOs] who are guarding the morality and public governance of our country” Akufo-Addo added.
*Discussions*
Jubilee House sources who are familiar with the details of the meeting point out to journalists that the CSOs were briefed by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, on the ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF) negotiations, budget 2023 and other economic management related issues.
Other Ministers present at the meeting were also allowed by the President to brief the CSOs on steps being taken to restore confidence in the country’s economy.
The CSOs also shared their thoughts and suggestions with President Akufo-Addo and his team on pertinent economic indicators and what they believe is the way forward with regard to rapid steps that needs to be taken to arrest the depreciation of the cedi, rising cost of living, among others.
*In attendance*
The CSOs and their representatives who attended the meeting are; Dr. Alex Ampaabeng, The Economic Governance Platform /OXFAM, Mr Benedict Doh, Finance Manager at Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), Mrs. Beauty Emefa Narteh, Executive Secretary for Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), Dr. Kojo Asante, Director, Advocacy and Policy Engagement at Ghana Center for Democratic Development, Dr. Emmanuel Akwetey, Executive Director, Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), Mr. Ato Bonful, member, Citizen Movement Ghana CMG) and Mr. Edem Senanu, Co-chair, Citizen Movement Against Corruption (CMaC).
The rest are Patricia Akakpo, program manager for NETRIGHT, Emmanuel Ayifah, PhD, Deputy Country Director for SEND Ghana, Kofi Asare, Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, Mr. Bright Amissah, President of the Coalition of NGOs in Health, Mohammed-Anwar Sadat Adam, Head of Programs at Oxfam in Ghana and Levlyn K. Asiedu, National Coordinator, Ghana CSO Platform on SDGs.
Wilberforce Asare