Accra, Jan 19, GNA - Dr Ishmael Yamson, former chairman of Unilever Ghana, on Thursday said the timing was right and circumstances most attractive now for Ghana to make the right choices for economic take off.

He said Ghanaians must be paranoid about good quality leadership and develop an inspiring long-term vision to create a competitive economy that would be recognised by present and future generations. "Let us be paranoid about the quality of our leadership...let us be paranoid about balancing our political, economic and social goals, and above all, let us be paranoid about accepting that only good behaviours and values will build sustainable, prosperous economy," Dr Yamson said at a Development Forum Lecture in Accra.

The Lecture organised by the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and the British Council, was on the theme: "Ghana Today: How ready are we for take off and the Agenda for Change."

Dr Yamson recalled the good economic performance of Ghana at independence, with a per capita income of around 400 dollars, saying at the time, it w as probably the best in sub-Saharan Africa, and same as Malaysia.

He noted that despite Ghana's retrogression while the rest of the world made huge progress, the country has now established participatory democracy, underpinned by relatively strong democratic institutions. He observed that discipline in fiscal and monetary policy management of the economy has also been restored.

He however noted that major challenges still remained as the nation still remained among the poor with high levels of unemployment and a precariously donor dependent economy, adding that more than 80 per cent of the country's investment budget is financed by donors. Other development challenges, according to Dr Yamson, are high rural urban drift, deteriorating standards of education and an uncompetitive economy.

Comparing the performance of the Ghanaian economy with that of Vietnam, Malaysia, Botswana and Singapore, Dr Yamsom reiterated that Ghana could leapfrog to the levels of those countries with a transformational leadership, a clear long term vision, as well as defined and committed strategies.

He urged the leadership to create a competitive economy, driven by public private partnership, and balance the political as well as socio-economic goals, focussing on poverty alleviation. "Our behaviours and values as Ghanaians require seismic change. We should for instance frown upon, and not justify corruption. "We should be prepared to deal firmly with poor performance and not protect people because of party or tribal affiliations. It is going to be demanding on us all but we must stand firm. Good values protect best people," Dr Yamson held.

Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, Chief Executive Officer of Databank Limited, commended the politics of inclusion, saying it was a new maturity. He said the challenge of the country was to sustain its inclusive democracy and utilise the best talents to drive a sustained growth agenda to create wealth and eliminate poverty. Mr Ofori-Atta said the nation must go for leaders who declare a righteous agenda for change, adding that the citizenry should demand integrity from leaders.

Prof Steve Adei, the Rector of GIMPA, chaired the event.