‘Political Will Is Key to Ghana’s Development’®

By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri

PROFESSOR KWAME Addo, an architect and former consultant for the government of Ghana in the environment, petroleum, tourism and housing sectors, has stated that a strong political will on the part of politicians is imperative to Ghana’s infrastructural development.
“Strong political will as we know is the very force to make something happen,” he said.
Professor Addo made these statements during a media interaction in Accra aimed at reinterpreting Ghana’s developmental process by effectively balancing the influence of traditional resources and orthodox ideals.
Speaking on the topic “New Visions” which is a call to national renewal, Professor Addo said comprehensive planning coupled with a strong political will is the heart of equitable national development.
“All human settlements need housing, safer and more environmentally friendly public transport, improved tenure and access to land, social infrastructure and services,” he noted.
He added that planning will work only if there is a decoded national vision reflecting good governance and the underprivileged are brought into decision making processes that affect their lives.
There is therefore the need to consider what, when, where and how to harmonize infrastructural development, social programmes and the societal mind set, he said.
Professor Addo noted that a decoded national vision without the right mind set of the people will cause the vision to collapse.
“That is why political will is the key and the final frontier for changing the mind set of our people.”
He added that we must change from the mindset of watching things happen to the mindset that makes things happen.
“The watching end is very comfortable because you only sit and watch, but we must get up and act for ‘now’ is the future!” he said.