Deputy Minister of Information Hon. Nana Ama Dokua Asiamah-Adjei has on Thursday November 22, 2018 launched the 5th National Policy Summit at the conference room of the Ministry.

The 5th National Policy Summit which is scheduled to take place at the Best Western Plus Atlantic Hotel in Takoradi in the Western Region is a public-private initiative by the Ministry of Information (MoI).

According to the Deputy Minister, the initiative which is jointly sponsored by the Universal Merchant Bank (UMB) and the Ministry of Information is designed to bring together policy makers, business leaders, Industry players, academia and Civil Society Organizations amongst many others together, to brainstorm, interact and dialogue on topical issues of national importance.

As it is factual that sharing information is critical in creating awareness, promoting transparency, participation and decision making at all levels of society, Hon. Dokua Asiamah-Adjei said her ministry in accordance with its mandate to disseminate information on major government policies, plans and program, is organizing the Fifth (5th) National Policy Summit.

She however mentioned that the 5th summit will focus on the performance of State Owned Enterprises and Agencies on the theme “Improving Performance in State Owned Enterprises & Agencies”.

The two-day summit is held every quarter and provides a platform for explaining Government policies, plans and activities to the citizenry and also collect feedback for policy refinement.

The opening ceremony for the 5th National Policy Summit is scheduled for Sunday 9th December, 2018 at 3:00pm while the full program comprising eight parallel sessions in the morning and afternoon kicks off on Monday 10th December, 2018 at 9:00 am.

She again indicated that the summit will be held under the distinguished patronage of Hon. Ing. Yaw Osafo Maafo, Senior Minister of the Republic of Ghana and will be addressed by Chief Executives/Heads of selected State organizations including Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Accra Digital Centre, State Housing Corporation, Ghana Free zones Board, Microfinance and Small Scale Loans Centre (MASLOC), Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP) and the Committee on Illegal Mining.

“The 5th National Policy Summit like other summits organized by our Ministry are closely aligned to the Coordinated Program of Economic and Social Development Policies: An Agenda for Jobs: Creating Prosperity and Equal Opportunity for All and also linked with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG) Goals 16 and 17 where targets relevant to the Ministry of Information focus on the following:

a. Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels

b. Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision making at all levels

c. Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.

d. Encourage and promote effective public-private private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of the partnerships.

Hon. Nana Ama Dokua Asiamah-Adjei recounted that the format of the Summit is usually plenary and parallel panel discussions with representatives from Government, academia, Civil Society Organisations and the private sector amongst others; thus, averagely, the summit hosts 800 participants per session and also with live coverage and web streaming to ensure national coverage and global reach.

The subject areas for discussion include the following:

SUBJECT: Making the best of Ghana’s Oil-The Role of GNPC

Supporting Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Ghana

Bridging the Housing Deficit-The Role of SHC

The Role of Free Zones Board in boosting export

The Role of Credit in boosting Small Scale Businesses

Safeguarding the Health of Consumers through improved regulatory activities

Promoting Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Ghana to Enhance Job Creation

Protecting our Natural Resources through an improved regulatory regime.