Government and Partners Begin Validation of Draft AAID, Set End of November for Official Launch

 

Speaking at the start of a two day National Sectoral Consultation on the draft ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, Minister Ngafuan said the validation is an outcome of a series of consultative meetings held across the country. 

 

“The Draft AAID we are validating today is the outcome of a series of consultative meetings, that we have held across the country and the MFDP is grateful for the response, support and good will received in the formulation process”.

 

President Joseph Nyumah Boakai launched the development of the AAID on July 18, 2024 with emphasis on the bottom-up approach.

 

A Ministry of Finance and Development Planning release quotes the Minister as saying the medium-term development agenda is largely driven by ‘ARREST’-Agriculture with a focus on agribusiness value chains; emphasizes Roads and other infrastructures in ICT, Energy, Sea ports and air transport.

 

He said, “the AAID further lays emphasis on good governance especially upholding the rule of law and strengthening the fight against corruption.” In addition, Minister Ngafuan said, “the AAID tackles the education value chain from Early Childhood Education to basic, secondary, higher learning and Technical and Vocational Education while targeting improved health outcomes through Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).

 

He disclosed that the new medium-term agenda will see the diversification of the country’s economy through targeting low hanging fruits in the tourism sector which has a huge potential of driving private investment.

 

Meanwhile, Minister Ngafuan has placed the indicative cost of the AAID at Seven Billion, Seven Hundred Nine million (US$7,609,000,000) with the government’s contributing 30 percent of the cost placed at two billion, two hundred and eighty-three million (US$2,283,000,000).

 

Minister Ngafuan disclosed that development partners are expected to contribute two billion, six hundred and sixty three million (US$2,663,000,000) or 35%, Official Development Assistance (ODA) is estimated at one billion, nine hundred and two million or 25% and remittances from the diaspora is seven hundred and sixty one million or 10%.

 

The Finance and Development Planning Minister noted that, “it is important to note that we all have a role to play in national development, leveraging our resources in the development of our country as we work towards ‘Leaving No One Behind’ ”.

 

Also speaking at the start of the validation, the stand-in for the UN Resident Coordinator, World Health Organization Health (WHO) Country Representative, Dr. Clement Peter lauded the MFDP for the development of the national development agenda that is inclusive of the County Development Agendas (CDAs).  

 

Dr. Peter indicated that this is truly a bottom to top method of formulating a national development agenda that is interlink with sectorial plans which will serve as blueprint for development in the country.   

 

These validations will help bring the crafting process of the National Development Plan to a near close after three months of consultations across all seventy-three districts, facilitated by two local think tanks: Subah Belle & Associates ( SBA) and the African Development Management Associates( ADMA).