Akosombo (E/R) Jan. 29, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Thursday charged his Economic Team to factor ongoing projects into this year's Budget and other national planning programmes to engender continuity. President Mills said policies and programmes currently in the pipeline, initiated by the last administration, which supported positive national development, must be thoroughly reviewed, preserved and added to the new initiative that would be recommended.

Opening a three-day meeting of "Economic Actors of 2009 Budget" at Akosombo in the Eastern Region, President Mills charged the Team to recognise "justifiable continuity" and embody and preserve projects of the previous administration and other political parties that were compatible with the manifesto of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) upon which it was elected into power. He reiterated the commitment of his Administration for an all-inclusive government, adding that, the Government would deliver on the promises of the NDC manifesto.

President Mills urged the Team, which is preparing the basis for the 2009 Budget, to come out with a budget that would be a solid beginner for 2009, the next fours and beyond. Members of the Transition Team; Officials from the Bank of Ghana and Ministry of Finance; Representatives from Academia and the Business Community are attending the meeting, which would examine policies contained in the manifesto of the government in the face of current economic reality and chart a way to bridge the gap. President Mills observed that the task of the Team was not the easiest, judging from the challenges identified by the work of the Transition Team. He, however, expressed confidence that, the recommendation of the meeting would respond to the challenges and set a course for a better Ghana.

President Mills said the invitation that was extended to "friends from supporting political parties, industries and the academia, was to begin the formation of an alliance of patriotic and well-meaning partners to help to drive the national development programme. "The sections of the Ghanaians community, who are currently not represented here, would be called to join in subsequent exercise of similar nature," the President said. He reiterated that Government's concept of inclusiveness involved human capital, intellectual resources and tested ideas. President Mills urged the experts to come out with a framework for urgent public-private partnership that would reduce public expenditure, expand the economy, generate employment and meet the challenges of the current global economic crises.

The Chairman of the Transition Team, Mr Paul Victor Obeng said the meeting was opportune as Minister-Nominees, who would soon be vetted by Parliament for approval, were taking part. President Mills, while returning from Akosombo interacted with cheering crowds at Atimpoku and Kpong.