We must think outside the box to fix the country — Osafo-Maafo

Ghana’s Senior Presidential Advisor, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, has emphasized the need to think outside the box to find solutions to the numerous problems facing the country.

Speaking at a national stakeholder dialogue series in Cape Coast, Mr. Osafo-Maafo stressed that the worsening unemployment situation in Ghana poses a significant security threat, and therefore, any public sector reform must consider innovative and unconventional strategies to address the challenges.

The three-day meeting, which is part of a series of dialogues aimed at shaping Ghana’s new public sector reform strategy, brought together stakeholders from various sectors to take stock of progress made in the past, identify bottlenecks, and provide suggestions for a new strategy.

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Mr. Osafo-Maafo also highlighted the need for practical steps to enhance the agricultural sector, particularly by making it attractive and profitable for the youth.

He suggested that the country should shift its focus from relying on certain commodities to cultivating vegetables and flowers, and creating land banks.

The Senior Presidential Advisor also called for stronger public-private sector collaboration to promote jobs and growth in the economy.

“Successive governments have, over the years, undertaken reforms to improve public sector performance.

These reforms have provided an opportunity for the assessment of the relevance of the ideas, visions and commitments needed to leverage the public sector as a catalyst for growth and development.” He said.

However, he also noted that previous reforms have not yielded desired results, partly due to their inability to align with key sectors of the economy.

Other speakers at the event, including the Head of Civil Service, Dr. Evans Aggrey-Darkoh, and the Head of Local Government Service, Dr. Nana Ato Arthur, emphasized the importance of institutionalizing reforms and improving quality service delivery at all levels.

The call for “outside the box” thinking is a timely reminder that Ghana’s leaders must be willing to challenge conventional wisdom and explore unconventional solutions to address the country’s complex issues.

As the country moves towards shaping its new public sector reform strategy, it is crucial that stakeholders work together to find innovative solutions that address the root causes of unemployment, poverty, and other development challenges.

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